254 THE BEE KBEPEK'S MANUAL. 



flourish in spite of all neglect, while others, in the common 

 hives, fall a prey to the moth, let their owner be as careful 

 as he will. I shall finally show how in suitable hives, with 

 proper precautions, it may always be kept from seriously 

 annoying the bees. 



It often happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, 

 that in spite of all precautions, some of them are found in' 

 the Spring, so greatly reduced in numbers, that if left to 

 themselves, they are in danger of falling a prey to the de- 

 vouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, seem often 

 to lose a poriion of their wonted vigilance, and as they have 

 a large quantity of empty comb which they cannot guard, 

 even if they would, the moth enters the hive, and deposits 

 a large number of eggs, and thus before the bees have be- 

 come sufficiently numerous to protect themselves, the combs 

 are filled with worms, and the destruction of the colony 

 speedily follows. The ignorant or careless bee-keeper is 

 informed of the ravages which are going on in such a hive, 

 only when its ruin is fully completed, and a cloud of winged 

 pests issues from it, to destroy if they can, the rest of his 

 stocks. But how, it may be asked, can it be ascertained 

 that a hive is seriously infested with the all-devouring worms ? 

 The aspect of the bees, so discouraged and forlorn, pro- 

 claims at once that there is trouble of some kind within. If 

 the hive be slightly elevaied, the bottom-board will be found 

 covered with pieces of bee-bread, &c. mixed with the excre- 

 meni of the worms which looks almost exactly like fine grains 

 of powder. As the bees in Spring, clean out their combs, 

 and prepare the cells for the reception of brood, their bot- 

 tom-board will ofien be so covered with parings of comb 

 and with small pieces of bee-bread, that the hive may ap- 

 pear to be in danger of being destroyed by the worms. If, 

 however, none of the Hack excrement is perceived, the re» 



