The Bee Louse, 



425 



where it belongs, and the Hemiptera, which contains the 

 bugs and most of the lice. It assumes the semi-pupa state 

 almost as soon as hatched, and, strangest of all, is, consid- 

 ering the size of the bee on which it lives and from which 

 it suclis its nourishment, enormously large. Two or three,, 

 and sometimes as many as ten, are found on a single bee. 

 When we consider their great size, we cannot wonder that 

 they soon devitalize the bees. 



These have done little damage except in the south of 

 Continental Europe, Cyprus and other parts of the Orient. 

 The reason that they have not been naturalized in other 

 parts of Europe and in America may be owing to climate. 



Fig. 215. 



Zma^o, 



Larva. 



though I think more likely it is due to improved apicul- 

 ture. Mr. Frank Benton, who has had much experience 

 with these bee lice in Cyprus, writes me that the Braula is 

 no serious pest if the bees are properly cared for. "In 

 fact, if hives are kept clean inside, and colonies supplied 

 with young queens and kept strong, the damage done by 

 the Braula is vei-y slight if anything. In old, immovable 

 comb hives, where the combs are black and thickened, and 

 in case the queens are old; or where through some extra- 

 neous cause the colonies have become weak, these lice are 

 numerous on queens and w'orkers. 1 have not noticed them 

 on the drones. Since they are found on workers as well 

 as the queen, their removal from the latter will bring but 



