§ XIX.] DROiXE-TRAPS. 201 



The queen-preventer also serves a useful purpose in 

 preventing pollen being carried into the supers, as the 

 edges of the wires or bars act as scrapers upon the legs 

 of the bees. 



§ XVIII. BEE-TRAPS. 



The object of these is to clear supers of bees previous 

 to taking the honey. There are several of them in use, 

 but the principle of most is the same. Glutton's bee- 

 trap resembles one of the common round-holed mouse- 

 traps, but the bees have to pass out instead of in. Over 

 the little circular hole a pin is hung perpendicularly, 

 and permitted by wire staples to open far enough to 

 allow the escape of the bee, after which it falls back and 

 denies readmission. The super having been removed 

 from the hive and inverted, the trap may be fitted into 

 one of the sides of a box, which, without its lid, is 

 then inverted upon the super, every opening being 

 closed which could admit a bee from outside. The 

 super is then darkened, when the bees within will make 

 for the light through the trap. Mr. Cheshire and Mr., 

 Aston have also invented traps. Mr. Aston's has talc 

 falls in place of pins. 



§ XIX. DRONE-TRAPS. 

 If the increase of drones grows into an intolerable 

 nuisance a trap may be applied for their partial extermi- 

 nation. Aston's drone-trap is an ingenious contrivance, 

 though we recommend its use only under limitations. 



