﻿EFFECTS ON HONEYBEES OP SJPEAYlfTG PEUIT TEEES 5 



To catch most of the dead bees removed from the hives a bee trap 

 was devised, constructed as follows: A rectangular framework, 30 

 by 16 inches, was made of wooden strips li/^ inches wide by seven- 

 eighths inch thick. The lower side (bottom of the trap) of the 

 framework was covered with cheesecloth, and parallel pieces of twine 

 one-fourth inch apart were stretched lengthwise over the upper side, 

 seven-eighths inch above the cheesecloth. One side of the frame- 

 work was nailed to the lower side of the alighting board, so that the 

 framework projected 7 inches on either side of the hive. The sides 

 of the trap were made of glass, 8 inches high, firmly fastened to the 

 framework, and so snugly joined at the corners and where they 

 united with the sides of the hive that a bee could escape only by 

 going over the glass. A worker removing a dead bee from inside 

 the hive usually flew from the alighting board with its load, but 

 seldom flew sufficiently high to pass above the sides of the trap. 

 Workers carrying dead bees therefore flew against the sides of the 

 trap and fell to the bottom, where the hairs of the dead bees became 

 fastened either to the cheesecloth or to the twine. The live bees 

 then pulled themselves loose from the dead ones. One of these traps 

 was placed in front of each hive entrance. 



DAILY OBSEEVATIONS OF BITES AND WEATHER 



Notes pertaining to the bees and weather were carefully made, but 

 only a brief report of the daily observations will be given here. 



During the early morning of May 29 the two Wentworth colonies 

 were installed; it was a clear, cool day, and the bees worked well 

 on the spraj^ecl blossoms. In the morning of May 30 the eight bureau 

 colonies were installed, but as the weather was cool and rainy the 

 bees did not leave their hives till 2 o'clock that afternoon. By this 

 time the sun was shining brightly, the weather became warmer, and 

 the bees, particularly the young ones^ came in great numbers out of 

 the hives. They flew to the nearest trees and began immediately to 

 drink the water standing on the sprayed leaves and petals. Later 

 the field bees were abundant in the trees and eagerly collected nectar 

 and pollen. May 31 and June 1 were warm and cloudy, with oc- 

 casional showers, although the bees worked well in the trees. June 2 

 was a cloudy, cool, and windy day, and the bees flew very little. 

 Most of the petals had fallen, and many sick bees were seen in the 

 bee traps and in the grass near the hives. June 3 was cool and clear, 

 and tlie bees flew only fairly well during the middle of the day. 

 June 4 was cool and rainy. One bee trap contained a half hatful of 

 dead and dying bees. June 5 was a cool, clear and windy day, and 

 j>raftically all of the petals had fallen. Each trap contained many 

 (lead and dying bees. June G was a clear warm day; the bees flew 

 well, and colk'cted pollen fi'om the wild flowers. Hundreds of dead 

 and dying bees were seen in the traps and in the grass ai'ound the 

 hives. June 7 was wai-m and cloudy, and the bees flew well. The 

 bees were still dying rapidly; many were removed fron) the ti'aps as 

 usual anri hnndreds of sick ones lay in the grass, particularly to the 

 leeward of the hives. On June 8 the bees were still dying to an ab- 

 normal extent; nevertheless, th(^ colonies were prepared for shipment. 

 Th(; two Wentworth colonies were returned to theii- own ai>ia,i-y and 

 the eight bureau colonies were expressed dii-ect to Washington, D. C, 



