The Bee
Moth
Of all the
numerous enemies of the honeybee, the Bee Moth (Tinea mellonella,) in climates
of hot summers, is by far, the most to be dreaded. So wide spread and fatal
have been its ravages in this country, that thousands have abandoned the cultivation
of bees in despair, and in districts which once produced abundant supplies of
the purest honey, bee-keeping has gradually dwindled down into a very
insignificant pursuit. Contrivances almost without number were devised, to
defend the bees against this invidious foe, but it continues its desolating
inroads, almost unchecked, laughing as it were to scorn, at all the so-called
"moth-proof" hives, and turning many of the ingenious fixtures
designed to entrap or exclude it, into actual aids and comforts in its
nefarious designs.
I should
feel but little confidence in being able to reinstate bee-keeping in our
country, into a certain and profitable pursuit, if I could not show the
Apiarian in what way he can safely bid defiance to the pestiferous assaults of
this, his most implacable enemy. I have patiently studied its habits for years,
and I am at length able to announce a system of management founded upon the
peculiar construction of my hives, which will enable the careful bee-keeper to
protect his colonies against the monster. The careful bee-keeper, I say: for to pretend that the careless
one, can by any contrivance effect this, is "a snare and a delusion;"
and no well-informed man, unless he is steeped to the very lips, in fraud and
imposture, will ever claim to accomplish any thing of the kind. The bee-moth
infects our Apiaries, just as weeds take possession of a fertile soil; and the
negligent bee-keeper will find a "moth-proof" hive, when the sluggard
finds a weed-proof soil, and I suspect not until a consummation so devoutly
wished for by the slothful has arrived. Before explaining the means upon which
I rely, to circumvent the moth, I will first give a brief description of its
habits.
Swammerdam,
towards the close of the 17th century, gave a very accurate description of this
insect, which was then called by the very expressive name of the
"bee-wolf." He has furnished good drawings of it, in all its changes,
from the worm to the perfect moth, together with the peculiar webs or galleries
which it constructs and from which the name of Tinea Galleria or gallery moth,
has been given to it by some entomologists. He failed, however, to discriminate
between the male and female, which, because they differ so much in size and
appearance, he supposed to be two different species of the wax-moth. It seems
to have been a great pest in his time; and even Virgil speaks of the
"dirum tine¾ genus," the dreadful offspring of the moth; that is the
worm. This destroyer usually makes its appearance about the hives, in April or
May; the time of its coming, depending upon the warmth of the climate, or the
forwardness of the season. It is seldom seen on the wing, (unless startled from
its lurking place about the hive,) until towards dark, and is evidently,
chiefly nocturnal in its habits. In dark cloudy days, however, I have noticed
it on the wing long before sunset, and if several such days follow in
succession, the female oppressed with the urgent necessity of laying her eggs,
may be seen endeavoring to gain admission to the hives. The female is much
larger than the male, and "her color is deeper and more inclining to a
dark gray, with small spots or blackish streaks on the interior edge of her
upper wings." The color of the male inclines more to a light gray; they
might easily be mistaken for different species of moths. These insects are
surprisingly agile, both on foot and on the wing. The motions of a bee are very
slow in comparison. "They are," says Reaumur, "the most
nimble-footed creatures that I know." "If the approach to the Apiary be
observed of a moonlight evening, the moths will be found flying or running
round the hives, watching an opportunity to enter, whilst the bees that have to
guard the entrances against their intrusion, will be seen acting as vigilant
sentinels, performing continual rounds near this important post, extending
their antenn¾ to the utmost, and moving them to the right and left alternately.
Woe to the unfortunate moth that comes within their reach!" "It is
curious," says Huber, "to observe how artfully the moth knows how to
profit, to the disadvantage of the bees, which require much light for seeing
objects; and the precautions taken by the latter in reconnoitering and
expelling so dangerous an enemy."
The
entrance of the moth into a hive, and the ravages committed by her progeny,
forcibly remind one of the sad havoc which sin often makes of character and
happiness, when it finds admission into the human heart, and is allowed to prey
unchecked, upon all its most precious treasures; and he who would not be so
enslaved by its power, as to lose all his spiritual life and prosperity, must
be constantly on the defensive, and ever on the "watch" against its
fatal intrusions.
Only some
tiny eggs are deposited by the moth, and they give birth to a very delicate,
innocent-looking worm; but let these apparently insignificant creatures once
"get the upper hand," and all the fragrance of the honied dome, is
soon corrupted by their abominable stench; every thing beautiful and useful, is
ruthlessly destroyed; the hum of happy industry is stilled, and at last,
nothing is left in the desecrated hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished
worms, knotting and writhing around each other, in most loathsome convolutions.
Wax is the
proper aliment of the larvacorpulency truly astonishing. If the bee-keeper
wishes to see their innate capabilities fully developed, let him rear a lot for
himself among some old combs, and if prizes were offered for fat and full grown
worms, he might easily obtain one. In the course of a few weeks, the larva like
that of the silk-worm, stops eating, and begins to think of a suitable place
for encasing itself in its silky shroud. In hives where they reign
uncontrolled, this is a work of but little difficulty; almost any place will
answer their purpose, and they often pile their cocoons, one on top of another,
or join them in long rows together: but in hives strongly guarded by healthy
bees, this is a matter not very easily accomplished; and many a worm while it
is cautiously prying about, to see [244] where it can find some snug place in
which to ensconce itself, is caught by the nape of the neck, and very
unceremoniously served with an instant writ of ejection from the hive. If a
hive is thoroughly made, of sound materials, and has no cracks or crevices
under which the worm can retreat, it is obliged to leave the interior in search
of such a place, and it runs a most dangerous gantlet, as it passes, for this
purpose, through the ranks of its enraged foes. Even in the worm state,
however, its motions are exceedingly quick; it can crawl backwards or forwards,
and as well one way as another: it can twist round on itself, curl up almost
into a knot, and flatten itself out like a pancake! in short, it is full of
stratagems and cunning devices. If obliged to leave the hive, it gets under any
board or concealed crack, spins its cocoon, and patiently awaits its
transformation. In most of the common hives, it is under no necessity of
leaving its birth place for this purpose. It is almost certain to find a crack
or flaw into which it can creep, or a small space between the bottom-board and
the edges of the hive which rest upon it. A very small crevice will answer all
its purposes. It enters, by flattening itself out almost as much as though it
had been passed under a roller, and as soon as it is safe from the bees, it
speedily begins to give its cramped tenement, the requisite proportions. It is
utterly amazing how an insect apparently so feeble, can do this; but it will
often gnaw for itself a cavity, even in solid wood, and thus enlarge its
retreat, until it has ample room for making its cocoon! The time when it will
break forth into a winged insect, depends entirely upon the degree of heat to
which it is exposed. I have had them spin their cocoons and hatch in a
temperature of about 70”, in ten or eleven days, and I have known them to spin
so late in the Fall, that they remained all Winter, undeveloped, and did not
emerge until the warm weather of the ensuing Spring!
If they are
hatched in the hive, they leave it, in order to attend to the business of
impregnation. In the moth state, they do not actually attack the hives, to
plunder them of food, although they have a "sweet tooth" in their
head, and are easily attracted by the odor of liquid sweets. The male, having
no special business in the hive, usually keeps himself at a safe distance from
the bees: but the female, impelled by an irresistible instinct, seeks
admission, in order to deposit her eggs where her offspring may gain the
readiest access to their natural food. She carefully explores all the cracks
and crevices about the bottom-board, and if she finds a suitable place under
them, lays her eggs among the parings of the combs, and other refuse matter
which has fallen from the hive. If she enters a feeble or discouraged stock,
where she can act her own pleasure, she will lay her eggs among the combs. In a
hive where she is too closely watched to effect this, she will insert them in
the corners, into the soft propolis, or in any place where there are small
pieces of wax and bee-bread, which have fallen upon the bottom-board, and which
will furnish a temporary place of concealment for her progeny, and also the
requisite nourishment, until they have strength and enterprise enough to reach
the main combs of the hive, and fortify themselves there. "As soon as
hatched, the worm encloses itself in a case of white silk, which it spins
around its body; at first it is like a mere thread, but gradually increases in
size, and during its growth, feeds upon the cells around it, for which purpose
it has only to put forth its head, and find its wants supplied. It devours its
food with great avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, that its
gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the creature is obliged to
thrust itself forward and lengthen the gallery, as well to obtain more room as
to procure an additional supply of food. Its augmented size exposing it to
attacks from surrounding foes, the wary insect fortifies its new abode with
additional strength and thickness, by blending with the filaments of its silken
covering, a mixture of wax and its own excrement, for the external barrier of a
new gallery, the interior and partitions of which are lined with a smooth
surface of white silk, which admits the occasional movements of the insect,
without injury to its delicate (?) texture. In performing these operations, the
insect might be expected to meet with opposition from the bees, and to be
gradually rendered more assailable as it advanced in age. It never, however,
exposes any part but its head and neck, both of which are covered with stout
helmets or scales impenetrable to the sting of a bee, as is the composition of
the galleries that surround it." As soon as it has reached its full
growth, it seeks in the manner previously described, a secure place for
undergoing its changes into a winged insect.
Before
describing the way in which I protect my hives from this deadly pest, I shall
first show why the bee-moth has so wonderfully increased in numbers in this country,
and how the use of patent hives has so powerfully contributed to encourage its
ravages. It ought to be borne in mind that our climate is altogether more
propitious to its rapid increase, than that of Great Britain. Our intensely hot
summers develop most rapidly and powerfully, insect life, and those parts of
our country where the heat is most protracted and intense, have, as a general
thing, suffered most from the devastations of the bee-moth.
The bee is
not a native of the American continent; it was first brought here by colonists
from Great Britain, and was called by the Indians, the white man's fly. With
the bee, was introduced its natural enemy, created for the special purpose, not
of destroying the insect, on whose industry it thrives, and whose extermination
would be fatal to the moth itself, but that it might gain its livelihood as
best it could in this busy world. Finding itself in a country whose climate is
exceedingly propitious to its rapid increase, it has multiplied and increased a
thousand fold, until now there is hardly a spot where the bees inhabit, which
is not infested by its powerful enemy.
I have
often listened to the glowing accounts of the vast supplies of honey obtained
by the first settlers, from their bees. Fifty years ago, the markets in our
large cities were much more abundantly supplied than they now are, and it was
no uncommon thing to see exposed for sale, large washing-tubs filled with the
most beautiful honey. Various reasons have been assigned for the present
depressed state of Apiarian pursuits. Some imagine that newly settled countries
are most favorable for the labors of the bee: others, that we have overstocked
our farms, so that the bees cannot find a sufficient supply of food. That
neither of these reasons will account for the change, I shall prove more at
length, in my remarks on Honey, and when I discuss the question of overstocking
a district with bees. Others lay all the blame upon the bee-moth, and others
still, upon our departure from the good old-fashioned way of managing bees.
That the bee-moth has multiplied most astonishingly, is undoubtedly true. In
many districts, it so superior bounds, that the man who should expect to manage
his bees with as little care as his father and grandfather bestowed upon them, and
yet realize as large profits, would find himself most woefully mistaken. The
old bee-keeper often never looked at his bees after the swarming season, until
the time came for appropriating their spoils. He then carefully
"hefted" all his hives so as to be able to judge as well as he could,
how much honey they contained. All which were found to be too light to survive
the Winter, he at once condemned; and if any were deficient in bees, or for any
other reason, appeared to be of doubtful promise, they were, in like manner,
sentenced to the sulphur pit. A certain number of those containing the largest
supplies of honey, were also treated in the same summary way: while the
requisite number of the very best, were reserved to replenish his stock another
season. If the same system precisely, were now followed, a number of colonies
would still perish annually, through the increased devastation of the moth.
The change
which has taken place in the circumstances of the bee-keeper, may be
illustrated by supposing that when the country was first settled, weeds were
almost unknown. The farmer plants his corn, and then lets it alone, and as
there are no weeds to molest it, at the end of the season he harvests a fair
crop. Suppose, however, that in process of time, the weeds begin to spread more
and more, until at last, this farmer's son or grandson finds that they entirely
choke his corn, and that he cannot, in the old way, obtain a remunerating crop.
Now listen to him, as he gravely informs you that he cannot tell how it is, but
corn with him has all "run out." He manages it precisely as his
father or grandfather always managed theirs, but somehow the pestiferous weeds
will spring up, and he has next to no crop. Perhaps you can hardly conceive of
such transparent ignorance and stupidity; but it would be difficult to show
that it would be one whit greater than that of a large number who keep bees in
places where the bee-moth abounds, and who yet imagine that those plans which
answered perfectly well fifty or a hundred years ago, when moths were scarce,
will answer just as well now. [249]
If however,
the old plan had been rigidly adhered to, the ravages of the bee-moth would
never have been so great as they now are. The introduction of patent hives has
contributed most powerfully, to fill the land with the devouring pest. I am
perfectly aware that this is a bold assertion, and that it may, at first sight,
appear to be very uncourteous, if not unjust, to the many intelligent and
ingenious Apiarians, who have devoted much time, and spent large sums of money,
in perfecting hives designed to enable the bee-keeper to contend most
successfully against his worst enemy. As I do not wish to treat such persons
with even the appearance of disrespect, I shall endeavor to show just how the
use of the hives which they have devised, has contributed to undermine the
prosperity of the bees. Many of these hives have valuable properties, and if
they were always used in strict accordance with the enlightened directions of
those who have invented them, they would undoubtedly be real and substantial
improvements over the old box or straw hive, and would greatly aid the
bee-keeper in his contest with the moth. The great difficulty is that they are
none of them, able to give him the facilities which alone can make him
victorious. No hive, as I shall soon show, can ever do this, which does not
give the complete and easy control of all the combs.
I do not
know of a single improved hive which does not aim at entirely doing away with
the old-fashioned plan of killing the bees. Such a practice is denounced as
being almost as cruel and silly as to kill a hen for the sake of obtaining her
feathers or a few of her eggs. Now if the Apiarian can be furnished with
suitable instructions, and such as he will practice, for managing his bees so
as to avoid this necessity, then I admit the full force of all the objections
which have been urged against it. I have never [250] read the beautiful verses
of the poet Thompson, without feeling all their force:
"Ah,
see, where robbed and murdered in that pit
Lies the
still heaving hive! at evening snatched,
Beneath the
cloud of guilt-concealing night,
And fixed
o'er sulphur! while, not dreaming ill,
The happy
people, in their waxen cells,
Sat tending
public cares;
Sudden, the
dark oppressive steam ascends,
And, used
to milder scents, the tender race,
By
thousands, tumble from their honied dome!
Into a gulf
of blue sulphureous flame."
The plain
matter of fact however, is, that in our country, as many bees, if not more, die
of starvation in their hives, as ever were killed by the fumes of sulphur.
Commend me rather to the humanity of the old-fashioned bee-keeper, who put to a
speedy and therefore merciful death, the poor bees which are now, by millions,
tortured by slow starvation among their empty combs! At the present time,
(April 1853,) I am almost daily hearing of swarms which have perished in this
way, during the last Winter; and I know of only one person who was merciful
enough to kill his weak stocks, rather than suffer them to die so cruel a
death.
If the use
of the common patent hives could only keep the stocks strong in numbers, and if
the bee-keepers would always see that they were well supplied with honey, then
I admit that to kill the bees would be both cruel and unnecessary. Such
however, are the discouragements and losses necessarily attending the use of
any hive which does not give the control of the combs, that there will be few
who do not continually find that some of their stocks are too feeble to be
worth the labor and expense of attempting to preserve them over Winter. How
many colonies are annually wintered, which are not only of no value to their
owner, but are positive nuisances in his Apiary; being so feeble in the Spring,
that they are speedily overcome by the moth, and [251] answer only to breed a
horde of destroyers to ravage the rest of his Apiary. The time spent upon them
is often as absolutely wasted, as the time devoted to a sick animal incurably
diseased, and which can never be of any service, while by nursing it along, its
owner incurs the risk of infecting his whole stock with its deadly taint. If,
on the score of kindness, he should shut it up, and let it starve to death, few
of us, I imagine, would care to cultivate a very intimate acquaintance with one
so extremely original in the exhibition of his humanity!
Ever since
the introduction of patent hives, the notion has almost universally prevailed,
that stocks must not, under any circumstances, be voluntarily broken up; and
hence, instead of Apiaries, filled in the Spring, with strong and healthy
stocks of bees, easily able to protect themselves against the bee-moth, and all
other enemies, we have multitudes of colonies which, if they had been kept on
purpose to furnish food for the worms, could scarcely have answered a more
valuable end in encouraging their increase. The simple truth is, that improved
hives, without an improved system of management, have done on the whole more
harm than good; in no country have they been so extensively used as in our own,
and no where has the moth so completely gained the ascendancy. Just so far as
they have discouraged bee-keepers from the old plan of killing off all their
weak swarms in the Fall, just so far have they extended "aid and
comfort" to the moth, and made the condition of the bee-keeper worse than
it was before. That some of them might be managed so as in all ordinary cases,
to give the bees complete protection against their scourge, I do not, for a
moment, question; but that they cannot, from the very nature of the case,
answer fully in all emergencies, the ends for which they were designed, I shall
endeavor to prove and not to assert.
The kind of
hives of which I have been speaking, are such as have been devised by
intelligent and honest men, practically acquainted with the management of bees:
as for many of the hives which have been introduced, they not only afford the
Apiarian no assistance against the inroads of the bee-moth, but they are so
constructed as positively to aid it in its nefarious designs. The more they are
used, the worse the poor bees are off: just as the more a man uses the lying
nostrums of the brazen-faced quack, the further he finds himself from health
and vigor.
I once met
with an intelligent man who told me that he had paid a considerable sum, to a
person who professed to be in possession of many valuable secrets in the
management of bees, and who promised, among other things, to impart to him an
infallible remedy against the bee-moth. On the receipt of the money, he very
gravely told him that the secret of keeping the moth out of the hive, was to
keep the bees strong and vigorous! A truer declaration he could not have made,
but I believe that the bee-keeper felt, notwithstanding, that he had been
imposed upon, as outrageously, as a poor man would be, who after paying a quack
a large sum of money for an infallible, life-preserving secret, should be
turned off with the truism that the secret of living forever, was to keep well!
There is
not an intelligent, observing Apiarian who has been in the habit of carefully
examining the operations of bees, not only in his own Apiary, but wherever he
could find them, who has not seen strong stocks flourishing under almost any
conceivable circumstances. They may be seen in hives of the most miserable
construction, unpainted and unprotected, sometimes with large open cracks and
clefts extending down their sides, and yet laughing to defiance, the bee-moth,
and all other adverse influences.
Almost any
thing hollow, in which the bees can establish themselves, and where they have
once succeeded in becoming strong, will often be successfully tenanted by them
for a series of years. To see such hives, as they sometimes may be seen, in
possession of persons both ignorant and careless, and who hardly know a bee-moth
from any other kind of moth, may at first sight well shake the confidence of
the inquirer, in the necessity or value of any particular precautions to
preserve his hives from the devastation of the moth.
After
looking at these powerful stocks in what may be called log-cabin hives, let us
examine some in the most costly hives, which have ever been constructed; in
what have been called real "Bee-Palaces;" and we shall often find
them weak and impoverished, infested and almost devoured by the worms. Their
owner, with books in his hand, and all the newest devices and appliances in the
Apiarian line, unable to protect his bees against their enemies, or to account
for the reason why some hives seem, like the children of the poor, almost to
thrive upon ill-treatment and neglect, while others, like the offspring of the
rich and powerful, are feeble and diseased, almost in exact proportion to the
means used to guard them against noxious influences, and to minister most
lavishly to all their wants.
I once used
to be much surprised to hear so many bee-keepers speak of having "good
luck," or "bad luck" with their bees; but really as bees are
generally managed, success or failure does seem to depend almost entirely upon
what the ignorant or superstitious are wont to call "luck."
I shall now
try to do what I have never yet seen satisfactorily done by any writer on bees;
viz.: show exactly under what circumstances the bee-moth succeeds in
establishing itself in a hive; thus explaining why some stocks [254] flourish in
spite of all neglect, while others, in the common hives, fall a prey to the
moth, let their owner be as careful as he will, I shall finally show how in
suitable hives, with proper precautions, it may always be kept from seriously
annoying the bees.
It often
happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, that in spite of all
precautions, some of them are found in the Spring, so greatly reduced in
numbers, that if left to themselves, they are in danger of falling a prey to
the devouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, seem often to lose a portion
of their wonted vigilance, and as they have a large quantity of empty comb
which they cannot guard, even if they would, the moth enters the hive, and
deposits a large number of eggs, and thus before the bees have become
sufficiently numerous to protect themselves, the combs are filled with worms,
and the destruction of the colony speedily follows. The ignorant or careless
bee-keeper is informed of the ravages which are going on in such a hive, only
when its ruin is fully completed, and a cloud of winged pests issues from it,
to destroy if they can, the rest of his stocks. But how, it may be asked, can
it be ascertained that a hive is seriously infested with the all-devouring
worms? The aspect of the bees, so discouraged and forlorn, proclaims at once
that there is trouble of some kind within. If the hive be slightly elevated,
the bottom-board will be found covered with pieces of bee-bread, &c. mixed
with the excrement of the worms which looks almost exactly like fine grains of
powder. As the bees in Spring, clean out their combs, and prepare the cells for
the reception of brood, their bottom-board will often be so covered with
parings of comb and with small pieces of bee-bread, that the hive may appear to
be in danger of being destroyed by the worms. If, however, none of the black
excrement is perceived, the refuse [255] on the bottom-board, like the shavings
in a carpenter's shop, are proofs of industry and not the signs of approaching
ruin. It is highly important, however, to keep the bottom-boards clean, and if
a piece of zinc be slipt in, (or even an old newspaper,) by removing and
cleansing it from time to time, the bees will be greatly assisted in their
operations. As soon as the hive is well filled with bees, this need no longer
be done.
Even the
most careful and experienced Apiarian will find, too often, that although he is
perfectly well aware of the plague that is reigning within, his knowledge can
be turned to no good account, the interior of the hive being almost as
inaccessible as the interior of the human body. The way in which I manage, in
such cases, is as follows.
Having
ascertained, in the Spring, as soon as the bees begin to fly out, that a colony
although feeble, has a fertile queen, I take the precaution at once to give it
the strength which is indispensable, not merely to its safety, but to its
ability for any kind of successful labor.
As a
certain number of bees are needed in a hive, in order as well to warm and hatch
the thousands of eggs which a healthy queen can lay, as to feed and properly
develop the larv¾ after they are hatched, I know that a feeble colony must
remain feeble for a long time, unless they can at once be supplied with a
considerable accession of numbers. Even if there were no moths in existence to
trouble such a hive, it would not be able to rear a large number of bees, until
after the best of the honey-harvest had passed away: and then it would become
powerful only that its increasing numbers might devour the food which the
others had previously stored in the cells. If the small colony has a
considerable number of bees, and is able to cover and warm at least one comb in
addition to those containing [256] brood which they already have, I take from
one of my strong stocks, a frame containing some three or four thousand or more
young bees, which are sealed over in their cells, and are just ready to emerge.
These bees which require no food, and need nothing but warmth to develop them,
will, in a few days, hatch in the new hive to which they are given, and thus
the requisite number of workers, in the full vigor and energy of youth, will be
furnished to the hive, and the discouraged queen, finding at once a suitable
number of experienced nurses[23] to take charge of her eggs, deposits them in
the proper cells, instead of simply extruding them, to be devoured by the bees.
While bees often attack full grown strangers which are introduced into their
hive, they never fail to receive gladly all the brood comb that we choose to
give them. If they are sufficiently numerous, they will always cherish it, and
in warm weather, they will protect it, even if it is laid against the outside
of their hive! If the bees in the weak stock, are too much reduced in numbers,
to be able to cover the brood comb taken from another hive, I give them this
comb with all the old bees that are clustered upon it, and shut up the hive,
after supplying them with water, until two or three days have passed away. By
this time, most of the strange bees will have formed an inviolable attachment
to their new home, and even if a portion of them should return to the parent
hive, a large number of the maturing young will have hatched, to supply their
desertion. A little sugar-water scented with peppermint, may be used to sprinkle
the bees, at the time that the comb is introduced, although I have never yet
found that they had the least disposition, to quarrel with each other. The
original settlers are [257]only too glad to receive such a valuable accession
to their scanty numbers, and the expatriated bees are too-much confounded with
their unexpected emigration, to feel any desire for making a disturbance. If a
sufficient increase of numbers has not been furnished by one range of comb, the
operation may, in the course of a few days, be repeated. Instead of leaving the
colony to the discouraging feeling that they are in a large, empty and desolate
house, a divider should be run down into the hive, and they should be confined
to a space which they are able to warm and defend, and the rest of the hive,
until they need its additional room, should be carefully shut up against all
intruders. If this operation is judiciously performed, the bees will be
powerful in numbers, long before the weather is warm enough to develop the
bee-moth, and they will thus be most effectually protected from the hateful
pest.
A very
simple change in the organization of the bee-moth would have rendered it almost
if not quite impossible to protect the bees from its ravages. If it had been so
constituted as to require but a very small amount of heat for its full
development, it would have become very numerous early in the Spring, and might
then have easily entered the hives and deposited its eggs among the combs,
without any let or hindrance; for at this season, not only do the bees at night
maintain no guard at the entrance of their hive, but there are large portions
of their comb bare of bees, and of course, entirely unprotected. How does every
fact in the history of the bee, when properly investigated, point with unerring
certainty to the power, wisdom and goodness, of Him who made it!
If there is
reason to apprehend that the combs which are not occupied with brood, contain
any of the eggs of the moth, these combs may be removed, and thoroughly smoked
[258] with the fumes of burning sulphur; and then, in a few days, after they
have been exposed to the fresh air, they may be returned to the hive. I hope I
may be pardoned for feeling not the slightest pity for the unfortunate progeny
of the moth, thus unceremoniously destroyed.
Bees, as is
well known to every experienced bee-keeper, frequently swarm so often as to
expose themselves to great danger of being destroyed by the moth. After the
departure of the after-swarms, the parent colony often contains too few bees to
cover and protect their combs from the insidious attacks of their wily enemy.
As a number of weeks must elapse before the brood of the young queen is mature,
the colony, for a considerable time, at the season when the moths are very
numerous, are constantly diminishing in numbers, and before they can begin to
replenish the exhausted hive, the destroyer has made a fatal lodgment.
In my
hives, such calamities are easily prevented. If artificial increase is relied
upon for the multiplication of colonies, it can be so conducted as to give the
moth next to no chance to fortify itself in the hive. No colony is ever allowed
to have more room than it needs, or more combs than it can cover and protect;
and the entrance to the hive may be contracted, if necessary, so that only a
single bee can go in and out, at a time, and yet the bees will have, from the
ventilators, as much air as they require.
If natural
swarming is allowed, after-swarms may be prevented from issuing, by cutting out
all the queen cells but one, soon after the first swarm leaves the hive; or if
it is desired to have as fast an increase of stocks, as can possibly be
obtained from natural swarming, then instead of leaving the combs in the parent
hive to be attacked by the moth, a certain portion of them may be taken out,
when swarming is over, and given to the second and third swarms, so as to aid
in building them up into strong stocks. [259]
But I have
not yet spoken of the most fruitful cause of the desolating ravages of the
bee-moth. If a colony has lost its queen, and this loss cannot be supplied, it
must, as a matter of course, fall a sacrifice to the bee-moth: and I do not
hesitate to assert that by far the larger proportion of colonies which are
destroyed by it, are destroyed under precisely such circumstances! Let this be
remembered by all who have any thing to do with bees, and let them understand
that unless a remedy for the loss of the queen, can be provided, they must
constantly expect to see some of their best colonies hopelessly ruined. The
crafty moth, after all, is not so much to blame, as we are apt to imagine; for
a colony, once deprived of its queen, and possessing no means of securing
another, would certainly perish, even if never attacked by so deadly an enemy;
just as the body of an animal, when deprived of life, will speedily go to
decay, even if it is not, at once, devoured by ravenous swarms of filthy flies
and worms.
In order to
ascertain all the important points connected with the habits of the bee-moth, I
have purposely deprived colonies in some of my observing hives, of their queen,
and have thus reduced them to a state of despair, that I might closely watch
all their proceedings. I have invariably found that in this state, they have
made little or no resistance to the entrance of the bee-moth, but have allowed
her to deposit her eggs, just where she pleased. The worms, after hatching,
have always appeared to be even more at home than the poor dispirited bees
themselves, and have grown and thrived, in the most luxurious manner. In some
instances, these colonies, so far from losing all spirit to resent other
intrusions, were positively the most vindictive set of bees in my whole Apiary.
One especially, assaulted every body that came near it, and when reduced in
numbers to a mere handful, seemed as ready for fight as ever. [260]
How utterly
useless then, for defending a queenless colony against the moth, are all the
traps and other devices which have been, of late years, so much relied upon. If
a single female gains admission, she will lay eggs enough to destroy in a short
time, the strongest colony that ever existed, if once it has lost its queen,
and has no means of procuring another. But not only do the bees of a hive which
is hopelessly queenless, make little or no opposition to the entrance of the
bee-moth, and to the ravages of the worms, but by their forlorn condition, they
positively invite the attacks of their destroyers. The moth seems to have an
instinctive knowledge of the condition of such a hive, and no art of man can
ever keep her out. She will pass by other colonies to get at the queenless one,
for she seems to know that there she will find all the conditions that are
necessary to the proper development of her young. There are many mysteries in
the insect world, which we have not yet solved; nor can we tell just how the
moth arrives at so correct a knowledge of the condition of the queenless hives
in the Apiary. That such hives, very seldom, maintain a guard about the
entrance, is certain; and that they do not fill the air with the pleasant voice
of happy industry, is equally certain; for even to our dull ears, the
difference between the hum of the prosperous hive, and the unhappy note of the
despairing one, is sufficiently obvious. May it not be even more obvious to the
acute senses of the provident mother, seeking a proper place for the
development of her young?
The
unerring sagacity of the moth, closely resembles that peculiar instinct by
which the vulture and other birds that prey upon carrion, are able to single
out a diseased animal from the herd, which they follow with their dismal
croakings, hovering over its head, or sitting in ill-omened flocks, on the
surrounding trees, watching it as its life ebbs away, and stretching out their
filthy and naked necks, and opening and [261] snapping their blood-thirsty
beaks that they may be all ready to tear out its eyes just glazing in death,
and banquet upon its flesh still warm with the blood of life! Let any fatal
accident befall an animal, and how soon will you see them, first from one
quarter of the heavens, and then from another, speeding their eager flight to
their destined prey, when only a short time before, not a single one could be
seen or heard.
I have
repeatedly seen powerful colonies speedily devoured by the worms, because of
the loss of their queen, when they have stood, side by side with feeble
colonies which being in possession of a queen, have been left untouched!
That the
common hives furnish no available remedy for the loss of the queen, is well
known: indeed, the owner cannot, in many cases, be sure that his bees are
queenless, until their destruction is certain, while not unfrequently, after
keeping bees for many years, he does not even so much as believe that there is
such a thing as a queen bee!
In the
Chapter on the Loss of the Queen, I shall show in what way this loss can be
ascertained, and ordinarily remedied, and thus the bees be protected from that
calamity which more than all others, exposes them to destruction. When a colony
has become hopelessly queenless, then moth or no moth, its destruction is
absolutely certain. Even if the bees retained their wonted industry in
gathering stores, and their usual energy in defending themselves against all
their enemies, their ruin could only be delayed for a short time. In a few
months, they would all die a natural death, and there being none to replace
them, the hive would be utterly depopulated. Occasionally, such instances occur
in which the bees have died, and large stores of honey have been found
untouched in their hives. This, however, but seldom happens: for they rarely
escape from [262] the assaults of other colonies, even if after the death of
their queen, they do not fall a prey to the bee-moth. A motherless hive is
almost always assaulted by stronger stocks, which seem to have an instinctive
knowledge of its orphanage, and hasten at once, to take possession of its
spoils. (See Remarks on Robbing.) If it escape the Scylla of these pitiless
plunderers, it is soon dashed upon a more merciless Charybdis, when the
miscreant moths have ascertained its destitution. Every year, large numbers of
hives are bereft of their queen, and every year, the most of such hives are
either robbed by other bees, or sacked by the bee-moth, or first robbed, and afterwards
sacked, while their owner imputes all the mischief that is done, to something
else than the real cause. He might just as well imagine that the birds, or the
carrion worms which are devouring his dead horse, were actually the primary
cause of its untimely end. How often we see the same kind of mistake made by
those who impute the decay of a tree, to the insects which are banqueting upon
its withering foliage; when often these insects are there, because the disease
of the tree has both furnished them with their proper aliment, and deprived the
plant of the vigor necessary to enable it to resist their attack.
The bee
keeper can easily gather from these remarks, the means upon which I most rely,
to protect my colonies from the bee-moth. Knowing that strong stocks supplied
with a fertile queen, are always able to take care of themselves, in almost any
kind of hive, I am careful to keep them in the state which is practically found
to be one of such security. If they are weak, they must be properly strengthened,
and confined to only as much space as they can warm and defend: and if they are
queenless, they must be supplied with the means of repairing their loss, or if
that cannot [263] be done, they should be at once broken up, (See Remarks on
Queenlessness, and Union of Stocks,) and added to other stocks.
It cannot
be too deeply impressed upon the mind of the bee-keeper, that a small colony
ought always to be confined to a small space, if we wish the bees to work with
the greatest energy, and to offer the stoutest resistance to their numerous
enemies. Bees do most unquestionably, "abhor a vacuum," if it is one
which they can neither fill, warm nor defend. Let the prudent bee-master only
keep his stocks strong, and they will do more to defend themselves against all
intruders, than he can possibly do for them, even if he spends his whole time
in watching and assisting them.
It is
hardly necessary, after the preceding remarks, to say much upon the various
contrivances to which so many resort, as a safeguard against the bee-moth. The
idea that gauze-wire doors, to be shut daily at dusk, and opened again at
morning, can exclude the moth, will not weigh much with one who has seen them
flying and seeking admission, especially in dull weather, long before the bees have
given over their work for the day. Even if the moth could be excluded by such a
contrivance, it would require, on the part of those who rely upon it, a
regularity almost akin to that of the heavenly bodies in their courses; a
regularity so systematic, in short, as either to be impossible, or likely to be
attained but by very few.
An
exceedingly ingenious contrivance, to say the least, to remedy the necessity
for such close supervision, is that by which the movable doors of all the hives
are governed by a long lever in the shape of a hen-roost, so that the hives may
all be closed seasonably and regularly, by the crowing and cackling tribe, when
they go to bed at night, and opened at once when they fly from their perch, to
greet the [264] merry morn. Alas! that so much ingenuity should be all in vain!
Chickens are often sleepy, and wish to retire sometime before the bees feel
that they have completed their full day's work, and some of them are so much
opposed to early rising, either from ill-health, or downright laziness, that
they sit moping on their roost, long after the cheerful sun has purpled the
glowing East. Even if this device were perfectly successful, it could not save
from ruin, a colony which has lost its queen. The truth is, that almost all the
contrivances upon which we are instructed to rely, are just about equivalent to
the lock carefully put upon the stable door, after the horse has been stolen;
or to attempts to prevent corruption from fastening upon the body of an animal,
after the breath of life has forever departed.
Are there
then no precautions to which we may resort, except by using hives which give
the control over every comb? Certainly there are, and I shall now describe them
in such a manner as to aid all who find themselves annoyed by the inroads of
the bee-moth.
Let the
prudent bee-master be deeply impressed with the very great importance of
destroying early in the season, the larv¾ of the bee-moth. "Prevention
is," at all times, "better than cure": a single pair of worms
that are permitted to undergo their changes into the winged insect, may give
birth to some hundreds which before the close of the season, may fill the
Apiary with thousands of their kind. The destruction of a single worm early in
the Spring, may thus be more efficacious than that of hundreds, at a later
period. If the common hives are used, these worms must be sought for in their
hiding places, under the edges of the hive; or the hive may be propped up, on
the two ends, with strips of wood, about three eighths of an inch thick; and a
piece of old woolen rag put between the [265] bottom-board and the back of the
hive. Into this warm hiding place, the full grown worm will retreat to spin its
cocoon, and it may then be very easily caught and effectually dealt with. Hollow
sticks, or split joints of cane may be set under the hives, so as to elevate
them, or may be laid on the bottom-board, and if they have a few small openings
through which the bees cannot enter, the worms will take possession of them,
and may easily be destroyed. Only provide some hollow, inaccessible to the
bees, but communicating with the hive and easily accessible to the worms when
they want to spin, and to yourself when you want them, and if the bees are in
good health, so that they will not permit the worms to spin among the combs,
you can, with ease, entrap nearly all of them. If the hive has lost its queen,
and the worms have gained possession of it, you can do nothing for it better
than to break it up as soon as possible, unless you prefer to reserve it as a
moth trap to devastate your whole Apiary.
I make use
of blocks of a peculiar construction, in order both to entrap the worms, and to
exclude the moth from my hives. The only place where the moth can enter, is
just where the bees are going in and out, and this passage may be contracted so
as to suit the size of the colony: the very shape of it is such that if the
moth attempts to force an entrance, she is obliged to travel over a space which
is continually narrowing, and of course, is more and more easily defended by
the bees. My traps are slightly elevated, so that the heat and odor of the hive
pass under them, and come out through small openings into which the moth can
enter, but which do not admit her into the hive. These openings, which are so
much like the crevices between the common hives and their bottom-boards, the
moth will enter, rather than [266] attempt to force her way through the guards,
and finding here the nibblings and parings of comb and bee-bread, in which her
young can flourish, she deposits her eggs in a place where they may be reached
and destroyed. All this is on the supposition that the hive has a healthy
queen, and that the bees are confined to a space which they can warm and
defend. If there are no guards and no resistance, or at best but a very feeble
one, she will not rest in any outer chamber, but will penetrate to the very
heart of the citadel, and there deposit her seeds of mischief. These same
blocks have also grooves which communicate with the interior of the hives, and
which appear to the prowling worm in search of a comfortable nest, just the
very best possible place, so warm and snug and secure, in which to spin its
web, and "bide its time." When the hand of the bee-master lights upon
it, doubtless it has reason to feel that it has been caught in its own
craftiness.
If asked
how much will such contrivances help the careless bee-man, I answer, not one
iota; nay, they will positively furnish him greater facilities for destroying
his bees. Worms will spin and hatch, and moths will lay their eggs, under the
blocks, and he will never remove them: thus instead of traps he will have most
beautiful devices for giving more effectual aid and comfort to his enemies.
Such persons, if they ever attempt to keep bees on my plans, should use only my
smooth blocks, which will enable them to control, at will, the size of the
entrance to the hives, and which are exceedingly important in aiding the bees
to defend themselves against moths and robbers, and all enemies which seek
admission to their castle.
Let me,
however, strongly advise the thoroughly and incorrigibly careless, to have
nothing to do with bees, either on my plan of management, or any other; for
they will [267] find their time and money almost certainly thrown away; unless
their mishaps open their eyes to the secret of their failure in other things,
as well as in bee-keeping.
If I find
that the worms, by any means have got the upper hand in one of my hives, I take
out the combs, shake off the bees, route out the worms and restore the combs
again to the bees: if there is reason to fear that they contain eggs and small
worms, I smoke them thoroughly with sulphur, and air them well before they are
returned. Such operations, however, will very seldom be required. Shallow vessels
containing sweetened water, placed on the hives after sunset, will often entrap
many of the moths. Pans of milk are recommended by some as useful for this
purpose. So fond are the moths of something sweet, that I have caught them
sticking fast to pieces of moist sugar-candy.
I cannot
deny myself the pleasure of making an extract from an article[24] from the pen
of that accomplished scholar, and well-known enthusiast in bee-culture, Henry
K. Oliver, Esq. "We add a few words respecting the enemies of bees. The
mouse, the toad, the ant, the stouter spiders, the wasp, the death-head moth,
(Sphinx atropos,) and all the varieties of gallinaceous birds, have, each and
all, "a sweet tooth," and like, very well, a dinner of raw bee. But
the ravages of all these are but a baby bite to the destruction caused by the
bee-moth, (Tinea mellonella.) These nimble-footed little mischievous vermin may
be seen, on any evening, from early May to October, fluttering about the
apiary, or running about the hives, at a speed to outstrip the swiftest bee,
and endeavoring to effect an entrance into the door way, for it is within the
hive that their instinct teaches them they must deposit their eggs. You can
hardly find them by [268]day, for they are cunning and secrete themselves.
"They love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil."
They are a paltry looking, insignificant little grey-haired pestilent race of
wax-and-honey-eating and bee-destroying rascals, that have baffled all
contrivances that ingenuity has devised to conquer or destroy them."
"Your
committee would be very glad indeed to be able to suggest any effectual means,
by which to assist the honey-bee and its friends, against the inroads of this,
its bitterest and most successful foe, whose desolating ravages are more
lamented and more despondingly referred to, than those of any other enemy.
Various contrivances have been announced, but none have proved efficacious to
any full extent, and we are compelled to say that there really is no security,
except in a very full, healthy and vigorous stock of bees, and in a very close
and well made hive, the door of which is of such dimensions of length and
height, that the nightly guards can effectually protect it. Not too long a
door, nor too high. If too long, the bees cannot easily guard it, and if too
high, the moth will get in over the heads of the guards. If the guards catch
one of them, her life is not worth insuring. But if the moths, in any numbers,
effect a lodgment in the hive, then the hive is not worth insuring. They
immediately commence laying their eggs, from which comes, in a few days, a
brownish white caterpillar, which encloses itself, all but its head, in a
silken cocoon. This head, covered with an impenetrable coat of scaly mail,
which bids defiance to the bees, is thrust forward, just outside of the silken
enclosure, and the gluttonous pest eats all before it, wax, pollen, and exuvi¾,
until ruin to the stock is inevitable. As says the Prophet Joel, speaking of
the ravages of the locust, "the land is as the garden of Eden before them,
and behind them a desolate wilderness." Look out, brethren, [269] bee
lovers, and have your hives of the best unshaky, unknotty stock, with close
fitting joints, and well covered with three or four coats of paint. He who
shall be successful in devising the means of ridding the bee world of this
destructive and merciless pest, will richly deserve to be crowned "King
Bee," in perpetuity, to be entitled to a never-fading wreath of budding
honey flowers, from sweetly breathing fields, all murmuring with bees, to be
privileged to use, during his natural life, "night tapers from their waxen
thighs," best wax candles, (two to the pound!) to have an annual offering
from every bee-master, of ten pounds each, of very best virgin honey, and to a
body guard, for protection against all foes, of thrice ten thousand workers,
all armed and equipped, as Nature's law directs. Who shall have these high
honors?"
It might
seem highly presumptuous for me, at this early date, to lay claim to them, but
I beg leave to enroll myself among the list of honorable candidates, and I
cheerfully submit my pretensions to the suffrages of all intelligent keepers of
bees.
In the
chapter on Requisites, I have spoken of the ravages of the mouse, and have there
described the way in which my hives are guarded against its intrusion. That
some kinds of birds are fond of bees, every Apiarian knows, to his cost; still,
I cannot advise that any should, on this account, be destroyed. It has been
stated to me, by an intelligent observer, that the King-bird, which devours
them by scores, confines himself always, in the season of drones, to those fat
and lazy gentlemen of leisure. I fear however, that this, as the children say,
"is too good news to be true," and that not only the industrious
portion of the busy community fall a prey to his fatal snap, but that the
luxurious gourmand can distinguish perfectly well, between an empty [270] bee
in search of food, and one which is returning full laden to its fragrant home, and
whose honey-bag sweetens the delicious tit-bit, as the crushed unfortunate, all
ready sugared, glides daintily down his voracious maw! Still, I have never yet
been willing to destroy a bird, because of its fondness for bees; and I advise
all lovers of bees to have nothing to do with such foolish practices. Unless we
can check among our people, the stupid, as well as inhuman custom of destroying
so wantonly, on any pretence, and often on none at all, the insectivorous
birds, we shall soon, not only be deprived of their aerial melody, among the
leafy branches, but shall lament over the ever increasing horde of destructive
insects, which ravage our fields and desolate our orchards, and from whose
successful inroads, nothing but the birds can ever protect us. Think of it, ye
who can enjoy no music made by these winged choristers of the skies, except
that of their agonizing screams, as they fall before your well-aimed weapons,
and flutter out their innocent lives before your heartless gaze! Drive away as
fast and as far as you please, from your cruel premises, all the little birds
that you cannot destroy, and then find, if you can, those who will sympathize
with you, when the caterpillars weave their destroying webs over your leafless
trees, and insects of all kinds riot in glee, upon your blasted harvests! I
hope that such a healthy public opinion will soon prevail, that the man or boy
who is armed with a gun to shoot the little birds, will be scouted from all
humane and civilized society, and if he should be caught about such
contemptible business, will be too much ashamed even to look an honest man in
the face. I shall close what I have to say about the birds, with the following
beautiful translation of an old Greek poet's address to the swallow.
"Attic
maiden, honey fed,
Chirping
warbler, bear'st away, [271]
Thou the
busy buzzing bee,
To thy
callow brood a prey?
Warbler,
thou a warbler seize?
Winged, one
with lovely wings?
Guest
thyself, by Summer brought,
Yellow
guest whom Summer brings?
Wilt not
quickly let it drop?
'Tis not
fair, indeed 'tis wrong,
That the
ceaseless warbler should
Die by
mouth of ceaseless song."
Merivale's
Translation.
I have not
the space to speak at length of the other enemies of the honied race: nor
indeed is it at all necessary. If the Apiarian only succeeds in keeping his
stocks strong, they will be their own best protectors, and if he does not
succeed in this, they would be of little value, even if they had no enemies
ever vigilant, to watch for their halting. Nations which are both rich and
feeble, invite attack, as well as unfit themselves for vigorous resistance.
Just so with the commonwealth of bees. Unless amply guarded by thousands ready
to die in its defence, it is ever liable to fall a prey to some one of its many
enemies, which are all agreed in this one opinion, at least, that stolen honey
is much more sweet than the slow accumulations of patient industry.
In the
Chapters on Protection and Ventilation, I have spoken of the fatal effects of
dysentery. This disease can always be prevented by proper caution on the part
of the bee-keeper. Let him be careful not to feed his bees, late in the season,
on liquid honey, (see Chapter on Feeding,) and let him keep them in dry and
thoroughly protected hives. If his situation is at all damp, and there is
danger that water will settle under his Protector, let him build it entirely
above ground; otherwise it may be as bad as a damp cellar, and incomparably
worse than nothing at all.
There is
one disease, called by the Germans, "foul brood," of which I know
nothing, by my own observation, [272] but which is, of all others, the most
fatal in its effects. The brood appear to die in the cells, after they are
sealed over by the bees, and the stench from their decaying bodies infects the
hive, and seems to paralyze the bees. This disease is, in two instances,
attributed by Dzierzon, to feeding bees on "American Honey," or, as
we call it, Southern Honey, which is brought from Cuba, and other West India
Islands. That such honey is not ordinarily poisonous, is well known: probably
that used by him, was taken from diseased colonies. It is well known that if
any honey or combs are taken from a hive in which this pestilence is raging, it
will most surely infect the colonies to which they may be given. No foreign
honey ought therefore to be extensively used, until its quality has been
thoroughly tested. The extreme violence of this disease may be inferred from
the fact, that Dzierzon in one season, lost by it, between four and five
hundred colonies! As at present advised, if my colonies were attacked by it, I
should burn up the bees, combs, honey, frames, and all, from every diseased
hive; and then thoroughly scald and smoke with sulphur, all such hives, and
replenish them with bees from a healthy stock.
There is a
peculiar kind of dysentery which does not seem to affect a whole colony, but
confines its ravages to a small number of the bees. In the early stages of this
disease, those attacked are excessively irritable, and will attempt to sting
any one who comes near the hives. If dissected, their stomachs are found to be
already discolored by the disease. In the latter stages of this complaint, they
not only lose all their irascibility, but seem very stupid, and may often be
seen crawling upon the ground unable to fly. Their abdomens are now unnaturally
swollen, and of a much lighter color than usual, owing to their being filled
with a yellow matter exceedingly offensive to the smell. I have not yet
ascertained the cause of this disease.
Posted
by Honeybee at 9:20 PM 0 comments 
4/25/11
Honeybee Facts
If
you never known anything about Honeybees then this site will provide you the
proper information. This site discusses facts about honeybees as well as the
makeup of the bee colony. Also, has some great information just about how to
maintain honeybees such as color coding the bees to be able to tell them apart
in the beehive.
Posted
by Honeybee at 2:00 PM 0 comments 
4/20/11
What Type of Bees Live in a Hive?
Honeybee
hives are unique in relation to how all the bees know their duties and
responsibilities and this is an important part of having a successful hive. A
hive is made up of queen bee, worker bees, and drone bees. All hives have
one queen bee and the queen bee typically live 3-5 years. Queen bees mate with
drone bees and can lay up to 1800-2200 eggs per day. The worker bees are
female and are not able to reproduce. The worker bees live anywhere from 4-9
months in winter months and in the summertime this time is cut in half because
they work themselves to death literally. The worker bees are the bees that go
out into the world to collect pollen and nectar to build up the beehives.
The drone bees are male bees that mate with the queen bee and they die off
after mating. In the fall months, drone bees are kicked out of the hive because
there is no use for them.
Actually,
the family structure of beehives is quite unique and amazing how every bee
knows their duties.
Posted
by Honeybee at 8:39 AM 0 comments 
4/15/11
The Impact of Honeybees Vanishing
According
to the New York Times, beekeepers in twenty-four states have reported losing
honeybees at an alarming rate. This is not good, since the honeybees provide
pollination to the farms across the country. As more and more bees die
and just disappear from beekeeping boxes our food supply will eventually end up
declining as well. Most beekeepers are reporting that the honeybee losses
are anywhere from 30-60% compared to 10 years ago.
A new
type of business has come forth during this decline and this is where
beekeepers are actually renting out their bee colonies to farmers, so that
their crops can get the pollination that is needed for healthy crop growth. For
example, beekeepers in northwest are shipping their bees down to Florida to
pollinate orange trees and other like crops.
The
key to helping repair the vanishing honeybees is to get more and more people
involved in raising honeybees. The great thing about beekeeping is that anyone
from urban to rural areas can have a box of bees without using much space.
Heck, even in the large cities of America people are raising honeybees on
the roofs of skyscrapers. The cost to getting started as a beekeeper is
fairly minimal with projected costs at $300-$600 depending on where you buy the
beekeeping equipment.
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KEVN Black Hills Fox
- May 05, 2015
- May 05, 2015
Tom Allen says, "There's
some folks that disagree but overall I think the ordinance presented by the
City Attorney's Office both protect the public and also allow beekeepers to keep bees in their
backyard, as long as they do it and not create a ...
Greenfield West Allis Now
- May 05, 2015
- May 05, 2015
Greenfield — Once again
the Greenfield Board of Health is being asked to spearhead a change in city
ordinances to allow beekeeping. The
issue also came up last year, but in November the Board of Health didn't see a
reason to lift the prohibition.
CT News (blog)
- May 06, 2015
- 10 hours ago
He will bring along samples
of honey, beeswax, and pollen. Norman and his son, Andrew, have traveled around
the world conducting educational programs, as well as assisting with the
development of beekeeping programs
in Africa and South America.
Daily Democrat
- May 04, 2015
- May 04, 2015
For the past two years,
Coulon has reached out to the community with a simple mission: To protect and
expand beekeeping culture in places
where people live. And Davis was the perfect place to start, especially with a
little guidance from a fellow bee ...
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UNITED STATESARIZONA
GUIDE
Killer Bees: Swarms and Attacks in
Arizona
BY JUDY HEDDING
Updated 06/26/19
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Martin Harvey / Getty Images
Off the top of your head, if you try to list the worst biting pests in Arizona, probably topping that list would be rattlesnakes, scorpions, or even fire ants. However, killer bees are a big problem in Arizona—mostly during bee season from March to October, which tracks with warmer temperatures. It is important for you to know what to do if you encounter a swarm.
Aggressive Africanized Honey Bees
Killer bees are actually referring to Africanized honey bees, which are an aggressive hybrid of an African honey bee that has been bred with a Brazilian honey bee. If you encounter a swarm or get bitten by a bee, do not panic.
If you or someone you know is stung and experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention.
Killer bees are considered a nuisance bee because they will launch an attack on people or animals that unintentionally stray into their territory. This aggressive variety of bee does not have to be disturbed or provoked; even simple noises or vibrations have been known to cause an attack. This type of bee has been known to a chase a person for up to a quarter of a mile.
In the 1990s, swarms of the crossbred bees reached the United States. In 1993, the hybrid bees became a problem for Arizona and New Mexico. According to the University of Arizona, if you encounter a honey bee, it is safe to assume that it is the Africanized variety.
How Dangerous Is the Killer Bee?
The sting of the Africanized honey bee is no more potent than your garden variety honey bee and they look pretty much the same. There is no concrete number of stings that are safe or that are lethal.
According to the Merck Manual medical reference:
"The average unsensitized person can safely
tolerate 22 stings per kilogram of body weight; thus, the average adult can
withstand greater than 1000 stings, whereas 500 stings can kill a
child."
Twenty-two stings per kilogram are roughly 10 stings per pound of body weight. There is a documented case of a man who survived more than 2,000 bee stings. There are others who are very sensitive or allergic to bee stings. Each year in the U.S. up to 100 people die from bee stings, many of whom had allergic reactions to the stings. Pets are also vulnerable.
Killer bees get the "killer bee" moniker because they are more easily provoked, quick to swarm, attack in greater numbers, and pursue their victims for greater distances. The killer bee colony can remain agitated longer. These colonies can be very large, and they are not particularly selective about the location of their hives.
If You Are Stung
If you or someone you know is stung, experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, fainting, vomiting, turning pale, or experiencing a rapid or slowing heart rate or pulse, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. Anyone who gets 30 or more bee stings should seek medical attention.
For the general care and treatment of Africanized honey bee stings, scrape stingers off as soon as you get to an indoor safe place. Wash the sting site with soap and water, apply a topical antibiotic, or ice wrapped in a cloth to soothe the discomfort.
Do Not Kill the Killer Bees
Although this bee can be aggressive, all types of bees remain important and productive insects for the environment, which is why bee fumigation and insecticides are discouraged.
If you notice a colony in a populated area, call a bee specialist or the local fire department to assess and handle the colony relocation. Pay attention if you see a few bees coming in and out of cracks in walls, utility boxes, or other enclosed places. Do not try to remove a beehive without professional help. Contact the Better Business Bureau for beekeepers, bee removal services, bee supplies, or pest control services. If you see a beehive on public property or in a park, contact the city in which it is located and let them know so they can take appropriate action.
Where Bees Like to Live
Killer bees hives or colonies are likely to develop near canals, drainage ditches, and retention basins because they like to be near water. The Africanized queen bee can lay up to 1,500 eggs a day. Sometimes, when they sense rain, the hive may swarm.
In Arizona, the killer bee colonies have grown; the more aggressive colonies are those that have survived drought periods. The summer is the peak period for bee attacks because there is less honey, and the bees become more protective of their hives.
How to Avoid a Swarm
Check the perimeter of your house regularly for bee colonies. Check storage sheds, dog houses, meter boxes, flower pots, trees, shrubs, piles of wood or debris, and crevices. Be careful moving or cleaning up debris or items that have been lying around outside the house. Seal cavities and crevices that might make for good hive location. Install a cover over the chimney when not in use.
Keep pets and children inside when using lawn mowers, clippers, blowers, or any other equipment that makes noise or could inadvertently disturb a beehive. Never pen or tether animals near beehives.
Wear light-colored clothing around your home, when hiking, or visiting unknown areas. Do not wear floral or citrus perfumes or aftershave when doing yard work or hiking.
If a Bee Attack Occurs
Have an escape plan in the event of a bee attack. Do not play dead or swat at the bees. If you notice a swarm coming your way, quickly get into a house, car, tent, or other enclosure. Close any doors or windows.
The key is to run away as fast as you can in a straight line. Bees are slow fliers. Most healthy people should be able to outrun the bees. Be prepared to run up to the length of two football fields.
Do not jump into a pool or underwater. The bees will wait until you surface for air to attack. Your face will be the first area to be stung.
Protect your face to prevent stings to the eyes, nose, and in the mouth. Bees attack where carbon dioxide is expelled. Facial stings are much more dangerous than stings to the body. Pull your shirt over your head if no other protection is available.
Killer Bees History
In 1956, the African bees were brought to Brazil so that scientists there could try to develop a honey bee better adapted to tropical areas. Unfortunately, some of the bees escaped and began breeding with local Brazilian honey bees. Since 1957, these bees and their hybrid offspring, Africanized honey bees, have been multiplying and migrating to other regions.
The first swarm of Africanized bees in the United States was documented in 1990 in Hidalgo, Texas. They were found in Arizona and New Mexico in 1993, California in 1994, and in Nevada in 1998. Africanized honey bees can be found in most of mid and southern Texas, about one-third of New Mexico, all over Arizona, the southern half of New Mexico, and the southern third of California.
Killer bees continue to migrate northward and have reached most of the southern U.S. up to the Chesapeake Bay area.
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