
45 
INSECT AND OTHER ENEMIES. 
The bee or wax moth ( Gallerza mellonella Linn.) is regarded by those 
unfamiliar with modern methods in bee keeping as a very serious 
enemy to success in this work. It was frequently such when only the 
common black bee was kept and the old way of managing, or rather 
of trusting to luck, was followed. But with the better races now 
introduced and with improved, hives and methods, and especially with 
the care that is now given to have no colonies queenless long ata time, 
the wax-moth larve are no longer regarded with great concern. 
Some species of wasps take a little honey at times—more particu- 
larly when hives are opened—and they annoy the bees; others capture 
and eat workers, as do also the large ant-like ‘‘ cow-killers” (Mutil- 
lide), and certain predaceous flies (Asilide), true bugs (Phymatide), 
and neuropterous and orthopterous insects (Libellulide and Mantide). 
The larve of certain beetles (Dermestide and Tenebrio) feed upon 
pollen and the cast-off skins of developing larve and pupe, and cer- 
tain of the Meioid larve attach themselves to the bodies of bees as 
parasites. Ants (Formicide) and cockroaches (Blattide), 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 
predaceous 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 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 1t populous and therefore in shape to repel 
attacks or to make good most of the unavoidable losses. 
ROBBER BEES. 
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 
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