98 A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 ENEHIES AND DISEASES OF BEES. 



IF all colonies are in good condition there is no enemy- 

 known in this country that can cause any serious 

 depreciation in the population of our stocks. Birds 

 occasionally take bees, but according to my own observa- 

 tion dead drones and workers are usually eaten, or those 

 which may have become chilled. 



Wasps do the same, but are not often able to rob the 

 stores of a hive unless it has a small population. Of the 

 more simple diseases to which bees are subject 



Dysentery 



is known by the bees soiling their combs and the flight- 

 board with their excrement, being unable to rise on the 

 wing before voiding the same. This occurs in early 

 Spring, just as it is hoped the bees have passed the worst 

 of the Winter. It can generally be prevented by provid- 

 ing that they have plenty of good stores, judicious 

 ventilation, and free passage under the frames (see 

 "Wintering"). A cure is to be effected by feeding warm 



