332 



Enemies of Bees — Shrews. 



BHBEWS. 



These are mole-like animals, and look not unlike a mouse 

 with a long pointed nose like the moles, to which they are 

 closely related. They are insectivorous a nd have needle 

 shaped teeth, quite unlike those of the Bodentia which in- 

 cludes the. true mice. I have received from Illinois and Mis- 

 souri species of the short-tailed shrews — Blaring — which enter 

 the hives in winter and eat the bees , only refusing the head 

 and wings. They injure the combs hut, little . As they 

 will pass through a space three-eighths of an inch wide, it is 

 not easy to keep them out of hives where the bees are winter- 

 ed on .their summer stands. I have received a short-tailed 

 shrew, Blarina brevieauda, Gray, which was taken in the hives 

 by Mr. Little, of Illinois. 



CALIFORNIA. BEE KILLER. 



Mr. J. D. Enas, Napa, California, has sent me specimens of 

 a curious bee enemy (Fig. 193) which he finds quite a serious 

 enemy of bees. 



This is a Datames, possibly D. 

 Fig. 193. 



Californicus, Simon, though 

 it does not quite agree 

 with the description of 

 that species. It belongs 

 to the sub-class Arachnida 

 or Spiders, and is related 

 to the scorpions. The 

 group of animals are 

 known as the Family 

 Solpulgidse or Galeodides. 

 As will be seen the head, 

 thorax, and abdomen are 

 separate, as in true insects. 

 The abdomen is long and 



California Bee Killer Insect. S ff ented ' » ^f^ 

 (jaws or faices, and posterior lee.) plate covers tne bead, and 



the eyes are far forward, small, and globular. The most 



peculiar organs are the jaws or faices, which are immense, and 



armed with formidable teeth, spines, hairs, etc. The family is 



small, little known, and except in one case, Datames Pallipes 



Say, which is said to live in houses in Colorado and to feed on 



bed-bugs, the habits have not been described. 



