31 
certain predaceous flies (Asilidze), true bugs (Phymatide), and neurop- 
terous and orthopterous insects (Libellulide and Mantide). The larvie 
of certain beetles (Dermestidie and Tenebrio) feed upon pollen and 
the cast-off skins of developing larvie and pup, and certain of the 
Meloid larvie attach themselves to the bodies of bees as parasites. 
Ants (Formicid) and cockroaches (Blattidw), which gather above the 
quilts and between the quilts and the tops of the frames in order 
to be benefited by the warmth of the cluster of bees, sometimes help 
themselves to honey, and their presence annoys the bees more or less. 
Some of the insects here mentioned are only found locally, the preda- 
ceous ones being confined mainly to the South, while it may be said 
that the general welfare of strong colonies is not often materially affected 
nor the return noticeably reduced through the attacks of any or all of 
them. 
Spiders, toads, and lizards destroy, in addition to many injurious 
insects, also some bees, and should be tolerated in the vegetable garden 
rather than in the apiary. 
Swallows, kingbirds or bee martins, mice, skunks, and bears only 
occasionally commit depredations in the apiary. 
Properly constructed hives enable the bees to limit in a great meas- 
ure the injury which these various enemies might inflict, and the 
avoidance of overswarming, with care to insure the constant presence 
of a prolific queen and a supply of food suited to the needs of the 
colony at the time, will keep it populous and therefore in shape to repel 
attacks or to make good most of the unavoidable losses. 
Robbing is sometimes a more serious matter, although it very rarely 
happens that a little careful attention just at the right time on the part 
of the bee keeper would not avoid all serious trouble on this score. 
When bees find nothing to gather during weather when they can still 
fly out they are easily tempted to appropriate the stores of weaker 
colonies. Exposure of combs of honey at such times may even occasion 
a combined attack upon a good colony otherwise quite able to take 
care of itself. 1tis then that the greatest destruction ensues, for such 
a colony will defend itself vigorously, and a pitched battle, with per- 
haps fifty or sixty thousand Amazons on either side, leaves the ground 
literally strewn with dead and dying. 
If the invaders conquer, every drop of honey is taken from the few 
vanquished that are likely to be still alive; and in turn the despoilers 
invariably fight among themselves as to the possession of the booty. 
When the robbing takes place during the absence of the owner, the con- 
dition of the robbed colony may not attract immediate attention, and 
during warm weather moth larve gain full possession of the combs 
within a few days. When this condition is observed, the whole damage 
is very likely to be attributed to the moth larvee. Colonies that have 
been left queenless for some time, and those weakened by disease or by 
overswarming are especial marks for such attacks. Of course these 
