68 Bee-keeping for Beginners. 



grub becomes a moth, and the process is repeated. 

 Sometimes a weak hive is completely destroyed this 

 way. The cure seems to be : (i) To melt down old 

 combs at once, and not let them lie about ; (2) do 

 not let the combs get too old in the hives, but remove 

 them and melt them ; (3) keep the hives strong, 

 and the bees will not allow the moth to enter. As a 

 proof that it is an essential to keep the hives strong, 

 it is said that a snail got once into a strong hive. 

 The bees could not get the snail out, so they stuck it 

 down to the floor with propolis, and it died in its 

 shell. 



Mice also cause a deal of trouble, provided they 

 can effect an entrance, as they will eat the wax 

 and honey and return thanks for it by getting very 

 fat. If they are already in, set a mouse trap inside 

 the hive, and take a cat for a walk near the hives. 

 To prevent them getting in — which is generally in 

 winter-time — make the entrance as small as possible. 



Wasps are a great nuisance to the bee-keeper. 

 Remedy : Destroy as many queen wasps as you can in 

 spring. Destroy wasps' nests wherever you can find 

 them. Narrow the entrances, and hang up bottles 

 in the trees with a little sugared beer in them. 

 Destroy spiders' webs near the hives to prevent the 

 following : " ' Come into my parlour, ' said the spider 

 to the bee." Tits are very tiresome rascals. They 

 may be seen tapping the floor of the porch in winter, 

 and when a bee comes out to inquire the reason of 



