BEEKEEPING IN ARKANSAS 2'J 



in some crevice or corner of the hive and after about ten weeks 

 the adult moth appears. The adult is grayish-brown in color. 

 It deposits eggs on the combs, or in cracks tor a succeeding gen- 

 eration. 



The wax moth, altho a pest, is at the same time an indicator 

 of poor beekeeping. The progressive beekeeper who maintains 

 tsfiviii/ Italian colonies in modern hives with movable frames 

 is iiercr troubled with wax moths. 



If stored combs become infested with the wax moths they 

 should be fumigated with carbon disulfide. This can be done by 

 placing the infested combs in hive bodies, stacking these up and 

 covering them with an oilcloth or blanket, making the whole, 

 as nearly airtight as possible. The oarbon disulfide, about a 

 half cupfull to 6-7 hive bodies, is poured in a saucer placed on top 

 of the frames. Carbon disulfide is highly inflammable and all 

 danger of flre must be carefully avoided. 



Ants. Various species of ants sometimes cause more or 

 less trouble in apiaries, stealing honey, and sometimes killing 

 brood. Strong colonies of bees will resist attacks by ants ex- 

 cepting the Argentine ant, which probably does not as yet occur 

 in Arkansas. With the exception of this species, ants may 

 easily be exterminated by use of carbon disulfide. A hole is 

 made in the ants' nest by driving a stick into the ground. A 

 small amount of carbon disulfide is poured into the hole, and it 

 is quickly closed up by tramping down the soil to confine the 

 gas as much as possible. 



HONEY PLANTS 



The white or silver maple (Acer saccHarum) is probably the 

 earliest source for honey in Arkansas. This year these maples 

 came into bloom in the northwestern part of the state about Feb- 

 ruary 1. The maples yield an abimdant source of pollen and con- 

 siderable nectar. Elms furnish a good source for pollen. 



The blossoms of peach, cherry, and apple come late in March 

 and early in April. In many parts of the state fruit bloom 

 furnishes a large portion of the nectar supply. Dandelions 

 (Taraxicum officionale) are in bloom at the same time and de- 

 serve to be mentioned among honey plants. Service-berry or 

 shadbush (Amelanchier canadensis) is quite common in the 

 woods; it comes into bloom late in March and furnishes a limit- 

 ed amount of nectar. During the middle of April the gums are 

 in bloom. The sour gum or Tupelo, (Nyssa sylvatica) yields 

 honey of excellent quality. The tree is fairly common in the 

 southern part of the state. The sweet gum (Liquidambar Sty- 

 raciflua) yields mostly propolis. 



White clover (Trifolium repens) occurs over a large part 

 of the state, but only in the northeastern section is it in suffi- 



