BEE PAST0EAGE. 87 



25th. On close inspection, I found numerous warty ex- 

 crescences upon tlie bush, of the size and shape of a hick- 

 ory nut. These proved to be only shells, the inside being 

 lined with thousands of minute insects, a species of aphis. 

 These appeared to be sucking the juices, and discharging 

 a clear transparent fluid. Near the stem was an orifice 

 about an eighth of an inch in diameter, out of which this 

 liquid exuded gradually. So eager were the bees for this 

 secretion, that several of them crowded around one orifice 

 at a time, each endeavoring to thrust the other away. 

 This occurred several years ago, and I have never been 

 able to find any thing like it since, neither have I learned 

 whether it is common in other sections. 



"Within a few years past, a si^ecies of aphis has appeared 

 on the grain in many sections, covering the straw in 

 mp-iads, sucking the juices and secreting at the time a 

 saccharine substance, which is collected by the bees. Cor- 

 respondents from some of the Western States, particularly 

 Wisconsin, write that the bees gather large quantities of 

 this, and that as winter food it proves unhealthy, causing 

 dysentery, etc. I have received numerous applications for 

 a remedy, but as I have not had the least experience, I 

 cannot advise. This secretion being more animal than 

 vegetable, is an unnatural aliment for the bee, and as 

 might be expected, is unhealthy. According to the pre- 

 diction of Dr. Fitch, this race of insects will soon' disappear, 

 and our bee-keeping friends may expect better times. I 

 remember hearing it predicted when I was a boy, that a 

 certain winter would " be a bad one for bees," because 

 they were seen obtaining honey dew from, hickory leaves. 

 The question arises. Was the effect of an imnatural sub- 

 stance taken by the bees forty years ago, similar to that 

 produced by the secretions from the aphis in later years? 

 All this does not explain the origin of honey dew, unless 

 w^e admit two or more sources. Honey dew is found in 



