1882 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



559 



death's-head moth. 



Today we had insects on the bi'ain, and especially 

 the moths, an order of insects called, scientiflcally, 

 Lcpuloptcfa. This has been a good year for moths- 

 better than for bees in these parts. We have never 

 before seen trees and plants so infested by caterpil- 

 lars as this last season. The consequence is, we 

 have now leafless willows and pear-trees, no cabbage 

 or parsnips; but lots of chrysales hanging about e\-- 

 ery where; even under the eaves of our hives they 

 have spun rows of cocoons. This afternoon we 

 gathered a number of chrysales from various kin<ls 

 of caterpillars of all sizes. Some were suspended to 

 the ceiling of the honey-house. These had no co- 

 coons, only a thin silken cord at the tip of the abdo- 

 men, and fastened to the ceiling (these produce the 

 butterflies, I believe). Some were in cocoons in 

 crevices and corners, and some in the sand. We 

 found one very large one in the barn, about 3^ 

 inches long, which I supect to be the chrysalis 

 of the death's-head moth. 



A moth that "squeaks." 



In the L. U. K. we read this about the death's- 

 head moth: "The insect is remarkable for emitting 



a plaintive squeaking sound, and is 



still further interesting on account of the fact that 

 It enters and plunders bee-hives, feeding upon the 

 honey; and although apparently defenseless, it en- 

 joys perfect impunity whilst ravaging the stores of 

 creatures so well provided with formidable weap- 

 ons, and generally so ready to use them against an 

 intruder. No explanation of this fact has yet been 

 produced." 



It is said, that the largo ugly green caterpillar 

 found on potato-vines is this insect in its first stage, 

 and also that the perfect insect measures five inches 

 across the wings. Have you, Mr. Editor, ever seen 

 or heard of this molh making raids on bee-hives? 

 Our curiosity is awakened, and wo should like to 

 know more about this insect. 



HYBRIDS ahead. 



We have not yet had frost here, and the bees are 

 still at work bringing in pollen and honey. Hybrids 

 are ahead with us. Our hives of mean pugnacious 

 hybrids have gathered 50 lbs. of honey more than 

 the best Italian. 



STILL another FEEDER WANTED. 



Now I have a feeder in my mind that I wish I 

 could give shape and reality, so that I could put one 

 on each hive. The idea is this: A tin box somehow 

 fixed into the center of Hill's device, that will hold 

 about half a pound or little more. Then I could put 

 the muslin right over this Hill's device, with a hole 

 over the box, which should have wire cloth. Then 

 all one has to do is to raise the chaff cushion and 

 pour in a little feed — just the thing for breeding up 

 in spring, or for feeding at any time during win- 

 ter, and doing it 80 quietly that it will not disturb 

 the bees. If I had such a concern on my hives, I be- 

 lieve I would take 10 lbs. of honey out of each hive, 

 sell it, put the money in my pocket, and then toward 

 spring feed syrup. S. J. II. 



Spotswood, N. J., Oct. 12, 18S3. 



I have never heard of the death's-head 

 moth about bee-liives. Perhaps the remarks 

 you mention were written before tlie advent 

 of Italians, and for warmer countries, where 

 the moths are more mischievous. I confess 

 I should like to see a moth that could 

 "squeak." — The idea of a feeder in this 

 wiatering-nest has often been suggested, 



but if I am correct, any solid substance in- 

 terposed here would defeat the purpose of 

 the Hill's device, because it would carry off 

 the heat. A block of candy laid under has 

 been used, but I would not think of putting 

 in any thing like a tin box. Permit me to 

 suggest, that you have a little dish ladle, or 

 spoon, that will hold just as much tolerably 

 thick syrup as can be poured right on the 

 frames and bees, without running out at the 

 entrance, and then, for stimulating, just 

 raise the mat and pour it over them, say 

 once a day. This will start brood-rearing 

 nicely, and you don't need any feeder at all. 

 1). A. Jones does all his feeding in a similar 

 way, by having tight bottoms to all his hives, 

 and the entrance tipped up a little the high- 

 est. Feed all at once, toward night, and 

 there will be no robbing. 



honey from the mammoth sweet corn. 

 I have often seen accounts of bees working on 

 corn, but never had much faith in their getting any 

 thing of any account but pollen until this summer, 

 when I planted several patches of the Mammoth 

 sweet around my house. I began to observe when 

 the corn was not over a foot high that the bees made 

 quite a buzzing around it, which was kept up until 

 it began to ripen. I began to question whether they 

 got honey or only water from it, and came to the 

 conclusion that they got honey or sweet water, and 

 not from the tassel or blossom either. I could occa- 

 sionally see one alight on the leaves when the dew 

 was on, and sip from a drop of dew; but most gen- 

 erally they would hunt around the root of the leaves, 

 where they leave the stalk, and stick their tongues 

 in around the stalks, and they did it in such a way 

 that I fully decided they got something sweet in 

 paying quantities, for they kept It up when there 

 was quite a plenty of honey coming from other 

 sources too. Have others observed the same? 



WHITE-CLOVER PROSPECT. 



If the present growth of white clover is any indi- 

 cation of a good c'.over season next year, we can 

 soon set our coopers at work making barrels for our 

 next year's crop, or we can not get enough when 

 the time comes, for the whole ground In this sec- 

 tion is one great mat of it, as thick as hairs on a dog, 

 and 6 inches to a foot high. It is so all over. 



I will give my season's report when I have my 

 bees all put up for winter. A. A. Fradenburg. 



Port Washington, 0., Oct. 9, 1883. 



DRONES FROM AVORKER EGGS, AGAIN. 



On page 503, Oct. Gleanings, you ask me to state 

 whether the queen produced worker brood both be- 

 fore and since I made the change. I answer, she 

 did, both before and since. She was about a month 

 old at the time I transferred them, and young 

 queens do not lay many drone eggs; and this colony, 

 although very strong, has never had any drones, ex- 

 cept the two frames spoken of. You say, "The 

 experiment proves nothing conclusively." Why 

 not? Does one have to prove any thing a dozen 

 times to be sure of it? Not knowing myself, I will 

 ask how it is possible that the egg formed in the 

 ovary of the queen, incased as it were in a soft thin 

 shell, can be changed in making its exit. It seems 

 to me more reasonable that the first food taken by 

 the minute larva determines the sex. This holds 

 good in regard to queens; for if j'ou wish good 

 queens they must be liatchcd as queens, otherwise 



