§ X.] BEE EhEMIES. 317 



the lower glass, and, when they have well feasted, will 

 ascend into the upper, one ; there, between the two, they 

 soon become scorched and perish by the heat of the sun 

 shining on the outer glass. 



Some seasons are very productive for the increase of 

 these prime pests of the apiary, and when this is the case 

 many hives severely suffer by their depredations. When 

 once wasps in any number have gained an entrance into a 

 hive, the bees can seldom eject them, -and the invaders 

 generally remain until they have freely regaled them- 

 selves from the luscious store. They not only con- 

 sume the honey, but cause a good deal of worry to the 

 legitimate inhabitants of the hive, as well as kilKng the 

 foremost defenders of it. Wasps being much superior 

 in strength, it requires at least three bees to master one 

 of them. 



Having suffered loss in our own apiary from the 

 attacks of wasps, we feel it desirable to give a detailed 

 account of our troubles from that cause. An Italian 

 stock was besieged and worried by wasps to such an 

 extent that in September the bees deserted it in a body. 

 Fortunately it happened that they chose a time for their 

 departure just as we visited the apiary. An unusiaal 

 turmoil was heard in the hive, such as is experienced at 

 the 'time of swarming, and on immediately examining the 

 ■entrance we observed that the bees were quitting in 

 tumultuous haste. The usual methods that induce bees 

 to settle were tried — amongst others that of throwing 



