1432 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Dec. 1 



able to attend to more colonies, getting more 

 honey per colony. He keeps all the colonies he 

 can attend to himself, instead of depending on 

 any help to care for a larger number. Mr. Har- 

 ris has used fifteen and sixteen frame hives; but 

 he could not see that they offered any advantage 

 over the twelve-frame size, while they had many 

 disadvantages. 



Twenty-four combs filled with honey and 

 brood will cost the same, whether coming from 

 two twelve-frame hives or from three eight-frame 

 hives; and there is not very much difference be- 

 tween the cost of the two twelve-frame hives and 

 the three eight-frame hives. Mr. Harris says 

 that he secures the same amount of surplus hon- 

 ey from three eight-frame colonies, which, at a 

 given time previous to the honey-flow, have five 

 combs of brood each, that he secures from two 

 twelve-frame colonies each having eight combs 

 of brood at the same time before the honey-flow. 

 Now, as he has said that he can produce six 

 combs of brood in the eight-frame hive to eight 

 in the twelve-frame hive, it will be seen that the 

 eight-frame hive is still ahead, taking into con- 

 sideration the number of frames in the hive. In 

 other words, it would take fewer bees to gather 

 the honey in a given locality in the eight-frame 

 hive than in a twelve-frame. If I were selling 

 bees I would ask about the same money for 60 

 or 65 colonies in twelve-frame hives that I would 

 for 90 colonies in eight-frame hives; and the sur- 

 plus-receptacles for each lot would probably sell 

 for about the same. 



The Langstroth frame being the standard, I 

 think that eight Langstroth frames make a small 

 hive; twelve make a large hive, and ten a medium 

 one. Other things being equal, a two-frame 

 nucleus in proportion to the number of combs it 

 contains will store just as much honey as a colo- 

 ny in an eight-frame hive, and considerably more 

 honey than a colony in a ten-frame hive, and, of 

 course, much more yet than a colony in a twelve- 

 frame hive. This comparison is based on the 

 ability of the queen to keep the different sizes of 

 hives stocked with eggs, and on the disposition 

 of the workers to take care of the eggs and brood 

 afterward. An ordinary queen will fill a ten- 

 frame hive with brood; but it is rare that a queen 

 will use all of the room in a twelve-frame hive. 

 Bees on ten frames of brood will store the same 

 amount of honey whether the brood is all in one 

 hive or divided into two parts and in two hives. 

 It will be seen by this that the number of combs 

 of brood and bees we have at the beginning of 

 the surplus-honey flow determines the amount of 

 honey that will be brought in, regardless of the 

 size of the hive. Generally speaking, the small- 

 er the hive the more honey will be placed in the 

 super. 



After satisfying myself that the eight-frame 

 hive was large enough for the average queen, I 

 made up my mind to use the ten-frame hive, the 

 two additional frames being principally for hon- 

 ey. Although these two extra frames may con- 

 tain brood in some cases, they were usually filled 

 with honey and comb — a reserve fund, so to 

 speak; and with this reserve on hand our colonies 

 will not have to be watched as closely in regard 

 to stores, and are thus better equipped for out- 

 yard service, where they may be left by them- 

 selves at quite long intervals at times. 



It is possible for the expert honey-producer to 

 make a fair success with almost any size or shape 

 of hive, and in almost any location; but it is very 

 convenient to have the hive conform to the sys- 

 tem that is best for the special location. 



Remus, Mich. 



THE ARGENTINE ANT. 

 A Possible Pest of the Apiary. 



BY RALPH BENTON. 



Assistant Entomologist, University of California. 



What we have to say in regard to the Argen- 

 tine ant as a possible pest of the apiary is neces- 

 sarily somewhat in the nature of a conjecture, 

 since we have not yet been able to locate within 

 the infested areas of the State any apiaries of com- 

 mercial size upon which to make observations. 

 There are upon record, so far as we know, no ex- 

 tended observations upon the effects of the inroads 

 of this pest in Louisiana and Mississippi upon the 

 bee-keeping industry of that region. Knowing 

 of his interest in bee-keeping matters, we have 

 written to Professor Newell upon this subject, but 

 have not yet heard from him in reply.* 



Meanwhile we have had under observation for 

 several weeks past in the infested area in East 

 Oakland two small apiaries, both of them not far 

 from the seat of the University investigations, the 

 Oakland formicary. The first of these apiaries 

 consists simply of two colonies of bees in frame 

 hives located in a vacant lot, and placed some 

 two feet off the ground on a bench. There are 

 at the present time no traces of ants in or about 

 the hives, and the only clue that we have that 

 ants have troubled them is that one of the colo- 

 nies is quite weak, coupled with the fact that the 

 legs of the bench have been placed at some time 

 in cans filled with water or oil. The second api- 

 ary consists of some half-dozen hives ranged out 

 on a bench some 18 inches off the ground beneath 

 several spreading and low-hanging lemon-trees. 

 Upon examining the citrus trees it was found that 

 they were well infested with yellow scale, and 

 that myriads of Argentine ants were passing to 

 and fro upon the trunks and limbs of the trees. 

 The apple-trees in the immediate vicinity were 

 also examined with similar results — myriads of 

 ants colonizing and caring for an extended in- 

 festation of woolly aphis. 



On approaching the colonies of bees, and ex- 

 aming them more closely, we found numbers of 

 ants busily going and coming, as is usual with 



* since the preparation of this paper, Professor Newell has been 

 heard from. He writes that he has not had any experience with 

 the pest in question in large commercial apiaries; but further 

 that, to his knowledge, several parties keeping bees in a small 

 way in New Orleans have entirely given it up, findiog it imprac- 

 ticable to protect the bees successfully from the ants. His own 

 personal experience is significant, of which he writes as follows: 

 " 1 have six colonies of bees here at Baton Rouge, and have had 

 occasion to notice the vigorous manner in which the ants attack 

 the larvjE in the hives and carry away the stored honey. Thus 

 far I have protected the colonies by placing each colony upon a 

 stand having four legs, each leg being placed in a dish of water. 

 This water has to be renewed every few days unless there are 

 continuous rains, for the ants will cross it as soon as any scum or 

 dust film appears upon its surface." This experience of Professor 

 Newell's, if any thing, puts a more serious face upon the Argen- 

 tine ant as a possible pest in California, for here we have com- 

 mercial apiaries that will be inevitably invaded unless heroic 

 measures are taken by the State, looking toward restriction or 

 eraditation. — R B. 



