1904 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



553 



DO CALIFORNIA LIZARDS KILL BEES? 



Have 3'ou any knowkdpfe cf lizards being 

 destructive to the strength of colonies? In 

 my apiary, which is situated in the foot- 

 hills of the San Fernando Vallej', there are 

 la'ge numbers of the small variet}-, about 

 six inches in length. In fact, I do* not 

 think I exaggerate when I say that at 

 least one could be found about any of the 

 hives. I have been told by several bee men 

 that they do not eat the bees — at any rate 

 the live ones — and so accepted this as a 

 fact until the other da}-. While eating my 

 luncheon in the shack at the apiary I no- 

 ticed, when I commenced, that there were 

 several bees buzzing on the window; also 

 that a lizard was scurrying about inside 

 the shade. In the course cf a short time I 

 observed that there was but one bee left, 

 and came to the conclusion that the various 

 scurries I had heard had meant that each 

 denoted the end cf a bee, so I cetermined to 

 pay particular attention to what became of 

 this last one. After a short wait I heard 

 snother scramble, and the buzz of the last 

 bee had ceased. Gently raising and look- 

 ing under the shade I saw the lizard with 

 the bee in its mouth. It was holding the 

 head and bodj-, up to the thorax, in its 

 mouth, with the abdomen out, under side 

 up, the bee vainly thrusting its sting in the 

 air. While watching, it began a series of 

 quick side rubs on the curtain until it event- 

 ually severed the abdomen, which fell to 

 the flcxjr, while it swallowed the portion 

 held in its mouth. I am convinced that 

 there were at least five bees on the window 

 when I sat down, so there was ocular proof 

 that, within a quarter of an hour, this lizard 

 had made away with that number. I do 

 not believe they will attack a bee at the en- 

 trance to the hive, having often noticed that 

 they cress the alighting-board at a rapid 

 rate; but I do believe that they make away 

 with many that may crawl on the sides or 

 top cf a hive. 



Some time ago I found one dead inside 

 the hive on the bottom- board, with a number 

 of stings in its body, which would show 

 that, although of the cold-blooded order of 

 reptiles, they are susceptible to the sling of 

 the bee. I would add that this particular 

 lizard had apparently no relish for the dead 

 bees, as there were manj on the ledge of 

 the window, but evidentl}' preferred, at the 

 expense of the labor and haz ird of the sting, 

 to have his meat fresh. E. W. Moore. 



Soldiers' Heme, Los Angeles Co., Cal. 



[I have seen the lizards in California; but 

 those that I saw seemed to be perfectlj' 

 harmless, and my bee-keeping friends so 

 regarded them. Some of them grew to be 

 quite tame and would almost let one pet 

 them oa the head, for I thought them quite 

 pretty. But it is possible these same crea- 

 tures were not so innocent as they looked, 

 and on the sly would gobble up bee after 

 bee. I should like to hear from some of our 

 California friends who may have any thing 

 to offer on this subject. — Ed.] 



PHACELIA TANACETIFOLIA FOR HONEY AND 

 FODDER. 



Some questions have been asked about 

 Phacelia iauacefi folia, whether this plant 

 would be good for fodder. This plant is 

 very good for fodder and honey in the North- 

 ern States where alfalfa can not be grown 

 to advantage. Alfalfa ha<5 many advan- 

 tages over phacelia. Alfalfa is perennial; 

 can be cut from three to six times a year, 

 and brings each time from one to one and 

 one half tons of hay per acre. Alfalfa, even 

 if cut late, will still make fine ha^'. 



Phacelia is an annual, and it can be cut 

 only once or twice in the same year. The 

 first time it should be cut for ha}-, just 

 when commencing to bloom fully, giving 

 the bees about oi e week's time to work for 

 honey. If the season brings moisture in 

 sufficient quantities, as is general in the 

 Northern States, I believe it will bring 

 a second cut, which may be used for 

 honey and seed. I have not tried it here, 

 especially for such a second crop, as we 

 we have not sufficient moisture in this coun- 

 try, but I have seen it produce new growth 

 near ditches where I had cut off some for 

 experiment, and this new growth produced 

 again flowers and seed. Phacelia will 

 make fine hay for all kinds of stock, if cut 

 not too late, say when blooming about from 

 one to two weeks. 



If a country is suitable for alfalfa, this 

 fodder will bring much larger returns than 

 phacelia. Otto Luhdorff. 



Visalia, Cal., April 9. 



A SUCCESSFUL USE OF FORMALIN. 



Having read about formalin for disinfect- 

 ing foul-broody combs, last January I fu- 

 migated about ten hive- bodies and combs, 

 some containing honey, and to-day there 

 are no signs of disease among the bees in 

 the fumigated hives. I am fumigating all 

 supers this season; but I find if the combs 

 are not well aired the bees leave them and 

 their brood to take care of themselves. 



Ohau, New Zealand. E. J. Pink. 



dividing at the time OF TRANSFERRING. 



I should like to ask a question or two. I 

 have several swarms in box hives to trans- 

 fer. Some of them are very strong. Can I, 

 or would it be advisable when I transfer 

 them, to divide them and make two swarms 

 out cf one? I should like to have a few 

 more swarms. S. W. Gray. 



[If increase is desired, this can be done 

 to afl vantage. — Ed.] 



A KINK IN wiring. 



I have followed using full sheets of light 

 brood foundation in wired brood- frames for 

 several years. I have tried different ways 

 of wiring; but my best results have been 

 obtained by using four horizontal wires 

 drawn moderately tight (the top ones being 

 drawn most), and putting the lower wire 



