1143 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Sept 1 



PROTECTION OF COMBS AND WAX 

 FROM THE WAX- WORM. 



BY BURTON N. GATES. 



There are frequently times when one wish- 

 es to put away in the summer either some 

 old combs or some burr-combs and clippings 

 for the extractor, and to feel sure that, when 

 he goes to look for them, he will find other 

 than a mass of web and cocoons. The ques- 

 tion frequently arises, ' ' What is the best way 

 to protect such from the ravages of the moth ? ' ' 



A similar problem confronted the writer 

 last June when I was called away on short 

 notice to be absent for ten weeks. I there- 

 fore decided to fumigate the combs and to 

 seal them so tight that no caterpillar could 

 enter. 



I took two hive-bodies, one above the other, 

 and toenailed them together. Over the box 

 thus formed I folded several thicknesses of 



The fumes spread in the atmosphere very 

 rapidly; and if they come in contact with 

 fire they explode violently. Never have any 

 form of fire — not even a smouldering smoker 

 — near where you are using this substance. 



The smaller box, in which there is a lot of 

 scrap comb, was similarly prepared, save 

 that it was not necessary to cover the bottom 

 with paper. 



Now, I knew these combs to contain some 

 larval moths, and, doubtless, eggs. When I 

 opened the cases in the early winter I was 

 glad to find my measures had been totally 

 successful. The results were as you see them 

 in the picture. The bisulphide had checked 

 all life. I left some combs in a tightly clos- 

 ed hive, unfumigated, as a check. The results 

 were very obvious — they were a total loss. 



Doubtless comb thus prepared and sealed 

 could be left year in and out; for so long as 

 the case remained tight, the paper intact, 

 and the boards unchecked, no caterpillar 



': i:^. gates' method of presekving combs and wax from the wax-wor:\is. 



i" Bisulphide of carbon is placed above the combs, and the box is quickly covered. Combs so arranged may 

 be kept. indefinitely. 



could gain entrance. I believe the method 

 to be positive, and I know it is simple and 

 quick. 

 Worcester, Mass. 



newspaper, brought it up over the sides of 

 the box, and cleated it securely with strips of 

 wood, as shown in the picture. The box 

 was then set upon a bottom-board for con- 

 venience in handling. 



Several thicknesses of newspaper were 

 similarly fitted over the top of the box, but 

 not secured until I had filled the hive-bodies 

 with frames upon which a few teaspoonfuls 

 of carbon bisulphide were poured. The paper 

 top was then quickly fastened down with 

 cleats, as was the bottom paper, a hive-cov- 

 er put on top of all, in order to insure against 

 puncturing the paper, and all was left until 

 fall. 



A word of caution must here be introduced 

 against having any fire or flame anywhere 

 near where carbon bisulphide is liberated. 



[While the plan here given is good, yet it 

 answers almost as well with far less work to 

 space combs two inches apart on racks in a 

 tight room and then give it a fumigation. 

 In most cases it will not be necessary even to 

 fumigate if the combs are taken directly 

 from the hives and spaced two inches apart 

 in the aforesaid room. If one comb should 

 be infested with worms the two-inch spacing 

 would prevent the webs from spreading. 



Another good way is to set the combs over 

 a hive where Italian bees or common hybrids 

 can get at them. Or, again, if put in hives 



