OR, MANUAL OF THB apiary. S07 



covered with these mites. A celebrated queen-breeder of New 

 York State sent me these same mites in 1887, with the report 

 that they killed his queens while yet in the cell. I found great 

 numbers in a cell sent by this gentleman. The strong and 

 prosperous colonies were exempt from the annoyance. So 

 small are these little pests that a score could take possession of 

 a single bee, and not be near neighbors, either. The lady 

 states that the bees roll and scratch in their vain attempts to 

 rid themselves of these a:nnoying stick-tights, and, finally, 

 worried out, either fall to the bottom of the hive or go forth 

 to die outside. 



The bee-mite (Fig. 294) is very small, hardly more than 

 five mm. (1-50 of an inch) long. The female is slightly larger 

 than the male, and somewhat transparent. The color is black, 

 though the legs and more transparent areas of the females 

 appear yellowish. 



RBMBDIBS. 



The fact that what would be poison to the mite would 

 probably be death to the bees, makes this question of remedy 

 quite a difficult one. I can only suggest what Mrs. Squire has 

 tried — frequent changing of the bees from one hive to another, 

 after which the hive can be freed from the mites by scalding. 

 Of course, the more frequent the transfer the more thorough 

 the remedy. 



I would suggest placing pieces of fresh meat, greased or 

 sugared paper, etc., in the hives, in hopes to attract the pests, 

 which, when massed on these decoys, could easily be killed. 



CAWFORNIA BBH-KItLBR. 



Mr. J. D. Unas, of Napa Co., Calif., sent me specimens of 

 a curious bee-enemy (Fig. 29S), which he finds quite a serious 

 enemy of bees. I have taken many of these here at Claremont, 

 but have not known of their disturbing bees. 



This is a Datames, possibly D. Californicus, Simon, though 

 it does not quite agree with the description of that species. It, 

 like the mites just described, belongs to the sub-class Arachnida 

 or spiders, and is related to the scorpions. The group of ani- 

 mals is known as the family Solpulgidae. As will be seen, the 

 head and thorax are not separate, as they are in true insects. 



