498 ENEMIES OP BEES. 



vice often makes when admitted to prey unchecked on the 

 precious treasures of the human heart. Only some tiny eggs 

 are deposited by the insidious moth, which give birth to very 

 innocent-looking worms; but let them once get the control, 

 and the fragrance* of the honied dome is soon corrupted, 

 the hum of happy industry stilled, and everything useful and 

 beautiful ruthlessly destroyed. 



As a feeble colony is often unable to cover all its combs, 

 the outside ones may become filled with the eggs of the 

 moth. The discouraged aspect of the bees soon indicates that 

 there is trouble of some kind within, and the bottom-board 

 will be covered with pieces of bee-bread mixed with the 

 excrement of the worms. 



If a feeble colony cannot he strengthened so as to protect 

 its empty combs, the careful hee-keeper will take them away 

 until the bees are numerous enough to need them. 



812. Combs having no brood, from dead colonies, or sur- 

 plus combs, with or without honey, should be smoked with 

 the fumes of burning sulphur, to kill the eggs or worms of 

 the moth, when kept from the bees in the months of June, 

 July, August, and September. The box, hive, or room, in 

 which they are kept should be tightly closed to prevent the 

 gas from escaping till it has done its work. In smoking comb- 

 honey in a room, the sulphur may be placed on hot coals in 

 a dish, and care should be taken not to use too much of it, 

 as the gas has the effect of turning the propolis to a greenish 

 color, quite damaging to the looks of the beautiful sections. 

 Enough smoke to kill the flies, in a room, will be found suf- 

 ficient. Dry combs kept over Winter in a well-closed room 

 without a fire, are not in danger of the moth the following 

 Summer, unless they are in some manner exposed. Combs, 

 in which there have been moths, should be examined occa- 

 sionally, to be smoked again if any worms are found. 



Bee-keepers also use bi-sulphide of carbon, poured on a 

 rag or in a saucer and enclosed within the hive or box, but 



* The odor of the moth and larvEe is very offensive. 



