BOOK XI. XX. 64-xxi. 67 



when they do not fill the combs full, it is called claron, 

 and blapsig07iia " if they do not bring their ofFspring 

 to maturity. 



XXI. Also an echo is detrimental to bees with its Enemiesoj 

 repercussion that alarnis them by striking them with Jangers. ^ 

 an alternating blow ; fog too is detrimental. Also 

 spiders are in the higliest degree hostile ; when 

 they have succeeded in weaving a web over the 

 combs they kill the grubs. Even the moth,* that 

 cowardly and ignoble creature that flutters up to 

 lamps when they are Ut, brings disaster, and not in 

 one way only, for it both devours the combs itself and 

 leaves excrement from which grubs are produced ; 

 also wherever it walks it weaves a covering of cobwebs 

 chiefly made from the down on its wings. Moreover 

 moths are born in the wood itself that specially 

 attack the combs. And another bane is their greed 

 for food, as their belly is moved, specially in the 

 spring time, by their devouring a surfeit of flowers. 

 Olive oil indeed kills not only bees but all insects, 

 especially if they are placed in the sun after their 

 head has been anointed. Sometimes also they 

 themselves cause their own death, by greedily 

 devouring honey when they perceive that it is being 

 taken away, whereas normally they are extremely 

 thrifty and make a practice of driving away wasteful 

 and greedy bees just the same as lazy and slothful 

 ones. Also their own honey is noxious to them, and 

 if it is smeared on their backs they die. To so many 

 foes and so many disasters — and how small a fraction 

 of them I am recounting ! — is this beneficent creature 

 exposed. The remedies we will speak of in their 

 proper places ; for at present we are discussing their 

 nature. 



473 



