486 THfl bbb-keepbr's guide ; 



terrible pest. The late Dr. Kirtland, the able scientist, and 

 first president of our American bee-association, once said in a 

 letter to Mr. I^angstroth, that the moth was first introduced 

 into America in 180S, though bees had been introduced long 

 before. They first seemed to be very destructive. It is quite 

 probable, as has been suggested, that the bees had to learn to 

 fear and repel them ; for, unquestionably, the bees do grow in 

 wisdom. In fact, may not the whole of instinct be inherited 

 knowledge, which once had to be acquired by the animal ? 

 Surely bees and other animals learn to battle new enemies, 

 and vary their habits with changed conditions, and they also 

 transmit this knowledge and their acquired habits to their 

 offspring, as illustrated by setter and pointer dogs. In time, 

 may not this account for all those varied actions, usually 

 ascribed to instinct 7 At least I believe the bee to be a crea- 

 ture of no small intelligence. 



REMEDIES. 



In Europe, late writers give very little space to this moth. 

 Once a serious pest, it has now ceased to alarm, or even to 

 disquiet the intelligent apiarist. In fact, we may almost call 

 it a blessed evil, as it will destroy the bees of the heedless, and 

 thus prevent injury to the markets by their unsalable honey, 

 while to the attentive bee-keeper it will work no injury at all. 

 Neglect and ignorance are the moth-breeders. 



As already stated, Italian bees are rarely injured by 

 moths, and strong colonies never. As the enterprising api- 

 arist will possess only these, it is clear that he is free from 

 danger. The intelligent apiarist will also provide not only 

 against weak but queenless colonies as well, which, from their 

 abject discouragement, are the surest victims to moth inva- 

 sion. Knowing that destruction is sure, they seem, if not to 

 court death, to make no effort to delay it. 



As my friend, Judge W. H. Andrews, asserts, no bees, 

 black or Italian, will be troubled with these insects so long as 

 all the combs are covered with bees. 



In working with bees an occasional web will be seen glis- 

 tening in the comb, which should be picked out with a knife 

 till the manufacturer — the ruthless larva — is found, when it 



