228 DISEASES AND ENEMIES OF BEES 



more advanced stage. If left undisturbed such a comb would 

 very shortly be entirely destroyed. 



Amateur bee-keepers frequently complain that the moth is 

 destroying their bees and inquire what to do for it. The answer 

 is : Keep your colonies strong and replace old and failing queens 

 with vigorous young Italians. Colonies that have become weak- 

 ened by disease fall an easy prey to the moths. 



Experienced bee-keepers are seldom heard to complain of 

 this trouble, for they have long ago learned that constant vigi- 

 lance is the price of success, in the apiary as elsewhere. The 

 bee-keeper who does not examine the brood nest of his colonies 

 occasionally has no means of knowing the condition of his bees. 

 Frequent examination will enable him to detect and avoid the 

 conditions that provide favorable surroundings for the moths. 



Care of Empty Combs. — The moths are a source of annoy- 

 ance to the bee-keeper who has large numbers of empty combs 

 during a part of the year. During the warm months there is no 

 better place to store empty combs than over a strong colony of 

 Italian bees. After the season is over and cold nights come they 

 may be placed in any cold place safely, for freezing will effec- 

 tively check the work of these insects. It is well to have a tight 

 compartment where no adult moths can get in so that they will 

 be safe after warm weather comes again. There is always danger 

 in putting away empty combs in warm weather, that eggs may be 

 present and that the combs may be destroyed before the presence 

 of the insects is discovered. 



When combs either empty or containing honey are found to 

 be infested with moths they should be cared for without delay 

 as the insects develop very rapidly. 



If only a few combs be injured they may be placed in strong 

 colonies and the bees will clean them up quickly and effectively, 

 throwing the dead larvse at the entrance of the hive within a few 

 hours. If there is a large number of combs it is well to place 

 them in a tight room and fumigate them. This may be done 

 by putting a quantity of sulfur in a dish, first pouring alcohol 



