902 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 



back many memories of childhood that I 

 fondly cling to. If hoarhoiind honey is like 

 hoarhound candy, I should be almost willing 

 to have a little cough for the sake of having 

 it prescribed. Very likely it is good for a 

 cough ; at least, I hope it is ; so you see I 

 am thus far on your side of the question. 



Bee ENTOM0ii06Y, 



Or Enemies of Bees Among the Insect Tribe. 



SADDI-E-rSACK CATERPILLAR. 



fHB curious-looking caterpillar from C. H. 

 Longstreet, Mount Dora, Fla., which he says 

 he finds on his grapevines, is no stranger to 

 me. It is found rarely all over the United 

 States. It is known to science as Empretia 

 stimulea, and has been called, very appropriately, 

 the saddle-back caterpillar. When full grown it is 

 about one inch long. It is of a reddish-brown color, 

 and is well covered with fine spines. If one han- 

 dles this larva, these spines prick the flesh and give 

 the same sort of sensation that is received from 

 handling a nettle. We have a few other larvs" of 

 moths that sting in the same manner. A broad 

 bright-green space covers, broadly, the back of the 

 caterpillar, while at each end the reddish-brown 

 color is seen. Two long br.- \ n spine-bedecked 

 tubercles arise from this brown space at each end, 

 while in front are two more pairs of similar 

 (though smaller) tubercles. Between both pairs of 

 the larger tubercles is a circular white spot, and 

 on the posterior end two lateral white spots. In 

 the very center of the back, surrounded by the 

 green, there is quite a large circle of rich brown 

 surrounded bj' a narrow belt of white. It feeds on 

 foliage, apple, cherry, grape, raspberry, currant, 

 rose, corn, etc. 



This curious caterpillar, which would attract at- 

 tention from its oddity, forms a globular cocoon, 

 and finally develops into a rich brown— almost vel- 

 vety—moth. 



THE CATERPILLAR TflAT HAS SPINES ON ITS BACK, 

 THAT STING LIKE NETTLES. 



It only remains to be said, that if this caterpillar 

 is handled by tender hands it will form pustules 

 and guite a considerable irritation, much like a 

 nettle. The inclosed figure shows quite accurately 

 the form and markings of the moth. 



A. .1. Cook. 



Agricultural College, Mich., Nov., 1887. 



Now, look here, old friend. Do you re- 

 member the time when we were out togeth- 

 er, and, passing under some blackwalnut- 

 trees, you ran and caught up the caterpillars 

 in your fingers, as a sclioolboy would catch 

 up kittens? It made my llesh crawl to see 

 you do it, and I told yoii at the time that I 

 should be afraid that some of these things 

 would bite or sting. Now, if I remember 

 correctly, you said at the time, that bugs, 

 worms, spiders, catterpillars, and even the 



great horrid tomato-worms, could not sting 

 or bite or hurt in any way, even if they 

 wanted to, and that therefore we need not 

 be afraid of them ; and now you own up to 

 friend Longstreet that these caterpillars 

 with prickers on their backs can sting — at 

 least, as much as a nettle can sting. Sup- 

 pose I had followed your advice, and picked 

 up one of these fellows, and had got stung. 

 Perhaps you meant that they do not sting 

 very bad— nothing like the honey-bee. If a 

 caterpillar should sting me as bad as a hon- 

 ey-bee does, I presume I should imagine 

 that I was killed entirely. 



FROM DIFFERENT FIELDS. 



KEEPING BEES IN A DORM.^NT STATE. 



fRIEND ROOT:— In your notice of my letter on 

 page 408, you did not do me justice. I will 

 take part of the blame, for the letter was 

 poorly written. In the first part of my letter 

 I said it had been proven, yeai-s ago, that 

 bees could be kept in a dormant state all winter, 

 and so it has; and I also said I had kept them three 

 months myself. What I said about bumble-bees 

 was a comparison. If you will allow me a little 

 space I may save some of the bee fraternity from 

 disappointment In trying to licep bees in this way. 

 In the first place, the bees must be full of honey, 

 and properly chilled, and then they can be kept on 

 their own combs, if there is no brood, and that is 

 one of the drawbacks in keeping bees here. It is 

 best to keep them in a clean dry box, and cover the 

 box with two or three thicknesses of old carpet, or 

 dry dirt enough to take up any moisture that may 

 be in the air, and then kept in a cool dry place. I 

 would not advise any one to try it until cold weath- 

 er, unless you have a fruit-house. If you wait un- 

 til cold weather they can be kept from one cold 

 snap to another in almost any place. 

 Delaware, O., Nov. 7. 1887. C. E. Jones. 



BEE-KEEPING AMONG THE MORMONS. 



I am much pleased with Gleanings and your A 

 B C book, and have sent to you for some supplies 

 within the past two years, and shall have occasion, 

 no doubt, to send in the future. In connection 

 with my work as missionary among the Mormons, 

 under the American Home Missionary Society (Con- 

 gregational) I take care of about 20 swarms of bees, 

 but can not take the care of them they need. I 

 have foul brood among them, but I think in this 

 very drj' climate it is not so bad as in some Eastern 

 States. In moving them this winter from B. to S., 

 20 miles, I shall bring only the young swarms that 

 are clear of it. We have had quite a good honey 

 year, and the quality is first class. We have a good 

 deal of sweet clover, considerable white clover, 

 great quantities of lucerne, or alfalfa, and some 

 cleome. If you ever make a trip„to California 

 I should like to have a call from you on the 

 way, and I will show you the beauties of 

 Mormonism. I have been here six years, and see 

 but little change for the better. We hope for some- 

 thing decisive before long, but may be disappointjed. 

 We do most sincerely hope that Utah will not be ad- 



