FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



the foulness of the combs. These should have the foul 

 parts pared and scraped off. 



It is said by some, that the disease may be cured by sup- 

 plying the Bees with a mixture of rosemary and honey, di- 

 luted with water. Others recommend for the purpose a 

 syrup of equal quantities of sugar and wine, with a litile 

 nuimeg grated in; and by others, a mixture of honey, su- 

 gar, and wine is prescribed. These medicines are also ad- 

 vised to be given, when the Bees appear dull and languid, 

 owing to a disorder of the antennae. 



Buc what has lately proved most destructive to Bees, in 

 this Country, is an insect, which is the spurious tinea, while 

 in its caterpillar form. It is a species of moth, and is 

 thus described by M Reaumur. 



< These creatures are of the caterpillar kind, and have 

 sixteen legs. They feed on wax, and for food enter the 

 beehives; where they boldly engage the Bees, and are not 

 to be prevented by them from feeding, though at the ex- 

 pense of their habitations ; so that it is no uncommon thing 

 for a Swarm of Bees to be forced to change their place, 

 leaving this contemptible victor in possession of the hive.' 



< AH the Authors who have writen on Bees, have com- 

 plained of this destructive animal. It never eats the honey, 

 but feeds only on the wax; attacking principally those waxy 

 cells uhere the female Bee deposits her eggs for the future 

 proe ;.y.' 



4 The Bees would readily destroy these creatures, were 

 it noi for the armor they are covered with. They form 

 themselves a coat of armor of a double matter. The first, 

 next to the body, is a kind of silk of their own spining ; and 

 the outer covering is of beeswax, laid on considerably 

 thick. The creature, just thrusting its head out to feed, 

 goes on devouring the cells; while the Bees are buzing 

 about him, attempting, in vain, to pierce him with their 

 stings. He never forsakes his covering; but lengthens 

 and enlarges it as he goes; and, gnawing down the sides of 

 the cells in his march, without staying to eat them one by 

 one, the destruction he occasions is scarcely to be con- 

 ceived.' 



4 When its time of change approaches, it contracts its 

 body within its double covering, and there changes into the 

 nymph state ; whence, after a proper time, it comes forth 

 in the form of a moth, with granulated horns, and a crook* 

 ed proboscis.' 



4 The Bees know their enemy in this new form, and de- 

 stroy all the moths they can meet with. They are seldom 

 so fortunate, however, as to kill the whole race as soon as 

 produced ; and, if only one escape, it is able to lay a foun- 

 dation of revenge for the death of its Brethren.' 



