448 



bees should be cut close, raked and burnt. Sprinkling the site with 

 some repellent substance, such as naphthaline, will prevent healthy 

 bees from alighting. After crawling has ceased, the site does not long 

 remain dangerous, for the mites do not live long away from the living 

 bee, and have never been found in dead bees, except in those recently 

 dead. 



The various stages in the life-history of A . woodi are described and 

 illustrated. It is evident, from the observation of many colonies, that 

 in some cases the mite may gain a footing among a stock of bees and 

 subsequently disappear. As in the past the disease has only been 

 recognised after it was irretrievably established, these cases of elimin- 

 ation of the parasite from stocks were unknown, thus leading to an 

 erroneous idea regarding the gravity of the disease. A warning is 

 given against hasty identification of bee-mites, as many species occur ; 

 no mite that is visible to the naked eye can be A. woodi. Certain 

 characteristics that may help in the identification of A. woodi under 

 the microscope are briefly described, as well as the structure of the 

 thorax of the bee and the method of examination of the bee for 

 diagnosis. The spiracles leading to the tracheae are provided with a 

 blocking plate by means of which the bee can at least partly close 

 the tubes. As great difficulty has been experienced in endeavours to 

 kill the mites within the respiratory system bv means of acaricides, 

 it would seem that the bee finds such substances offensive or irritant 

 and endeavours by closure to keep them out. 



As it is known that A . woodi may be present in a colony for some time 

 before visibly affecting its prosperity, the early recognition of its 

 presence is of extreme importance. It is suggested that county 

 agricultural authorities should undertake to make scientific examination 

 of stocks and to report upon their condition, beekeepers, either singly 

 or in combination, engaging the services of a qualified expert to certify 

 as to the condition of their stocks. The results of experiments on the 

 vitality of A. woodi are given. The majority of mites are generally 

 dead in 24-30 hours after the death of the host, but individuals 

 have been found alive after five days. 



Alfonsus (A.). An Enemy o£ the Mites in the Bee-hive. — Bee World. 

 Benson, O.xon., iv, no. 1, June 1922, pp. 2-3, 1 fig. 



Chelifer cancroides (the book-scorpion), which generally lives in old 

 books, herbariums, entomological collections, etc., occurs sometimes 

 in beehives, where it doubtless lives on the many species of mjtes to 

 be found there. The author suggests that this Arachnid may prove 

 to be of practical value in the control of acarine disease of bees. 



Dr. J. Rennie, in commenting upon this paper, confirms the occur- 

 rence of C. cancroides in beehives, although it is very rare, and thinks 

 that it is only in hives that are badly kept, and where damp, debris 

 and dead bees are common features, that there are likely to be sufficient 

 mites to furnish food for any number of it. 



Box (H. E.). Insect Pests o£ Stored Products. The Bean Weevil 



{Bruchiis obtcctus, Say). — Farmers' Jl., Nairobi, iv, nos. 23 & 24, 

 8th & 15th June 1922, pp. 29-30, 15-22, 19 figs. 



This is the first of a series of papers dealing with pests of stored 

 products in Kenya. The life-history and habits of, and injury caused 

 by, Bruchiis obtcctus, Say, are given in detail, much of the information 



