ENEMIES OF BEES. 203 



the combs, the bees were afterwards spread on a 

 cloth in the sun, and became reanimated. Dr. Der- 

 ham says that he has known bees revive after 

 remaining twenty-four hours under an exhausted 

 air-pump. After long submersion the proboscis 

 of the bee is generally unfolded, and stretched to 

 its full length. The first symptom of returning 

 animation, is a motion at its extremity, succeeded 

 by a similar motion at the extremities of the 

 legs. Having so far progressed towards recovery, 

 the tongue is soon folded up again, and the bee 

 prepared to resume its customary occupations. 



Moths and spiders should be watched and de- 

 stroyed in an evening, as at that time the former 

 are hovering about, and the latter laying their 

 snares ; at that time too there would be less 

 danger of annoying the bees, or of being annoyed 

 by them. Wherever moths have gained pos- 

 session of a hive, it is always necessary to destroy 

 the bees, or to drive them into another hive. 



Attention to the following particulars may guard 

 the bees from many of their enemies. A frequent 

 cleaning of the hive floors ; the use of new or well 

 cleaned hives ; the timely renewal of the cover- 

 ings, and keeping the ground bare around the 

 apiary, particularly in front of it. This last pre- 

 caution may also prevent the entanglement of the 

 bees in rubbish or long straggling vegetables, 



