256 ENEMIES OP BEES. 



ed by the worms. Their owner, with books in his hand, and 

 all the newest devices in the Apiarian line, unable to protect his 

 bees against their enemies, or to account for the reason why 

 some hives appear, like the children of the poor, almost to 

 thrive upon ill-treatment and neglect, while others, like the 

 offspring of the rich and powerful, are feeble and diseased, 

 apparently in exact proportion to the means used to guard 

 them against noxious influences, and to minister most lavishly 

 to all their wants. 



I used formerly to be much surprised to hear so many bee- 

 keepers speak of having " good luck," or " bad luck," with 

 their bees ; but really as bees are generally managed, success 

 or failure does seem to depend, almost entirely, upon what 

 the ignorant or superstitious are wont to call " luck." 



I shall now attempt what I have never yet seen satisfac- 

 torily done by any writer on bees ; namely, to show exactly 

 under what circumstances the bee-moth succeeds in estab- 

 lishing itself in a hive ; thus explaining why some stocks 

 flourish inspite of all neglect while others fall a prey to the 

 moth, let their owner be as careful as he will. I shall finally 

 show how, in suitable hives, and with proper precautions, it 

 may always be kept from seriously annoying the bees. 



It often happens, when a large number of stocks are kept, 

 that in spite of all precautions, some of them are found in 

 the Spring, so greatly reduced in numbers, that if left to 

 themselves, they are in danger of falling a prey to the de- 

 vouring moth. Bees, when in feeble colonies, seem often to 

 lose a portion of their wonted vigilance, and as they have a 

 large quantity of empty comb which they cannot guard, 

 even if they would, the moth enters the hive, and deposits a 

 large number of eggs, and thus, before the bees have become 

 suflnciently numerous to protect themselves, the combs are 

 filled with worms, and the destruction of the colony speedily 



