268 BNEffllBS OF BEES. 



with thousands of their kind. The destruction of a single 

 worm early in the Spring, may thus be more efficacious than 

 that of hundreds at a later period. If the common hives 

 are used, they must be sought for in their hiding places, 

 under the edges of the hive- ; or the hive may be propped 

 up, on both ends, with strips of wood, about three-eighths of 

 an inch thick ; and a piece of woolen rag put between the 

 bottom-board and the back of the hive. Into this warm 

 hiding-place, the full grown worm retreating to spin its 

 cocoon, may be easily caught, and effectually dealt with. 

 Hollow sticks, or split joints of cane may be set under the 

 hives, to elevate them, or laid on the bottom-board, and if 

 they have a few small openings through which the bees can- 

 not enter, the worms will take possession of them, and may 

 easily be destroyed. 



Only provide some hollow, easily accessible to the 

 worms when they wish to spin, and to yourself when you 

 want them, and if the bees are in good condition, so that 

 they will not permit the worms to spin among the combs, 

 you can, with ease, entrap nearly all of them. If the hiv6 

 has lost its queen, and the worms have gained possession of 

 it, break it up as soon as possibte, unless you prefer to re- 

 serve it as a moth breeder, to infest your whole Apiary. 



In the movable-comb hive, blocks of a peculiar construc- 

 tion, are used, both to entrap the worms, and exclude the 

 moth. The only place where the moth can get into these 

 hives, is at the entrance, and this passage may be contracted 

 to suit the size of the colony : the very shape of it is such 

 that if the moth attempts to- fwxje an entrance, she is obliged 

 to travel over a space, which, continually narrowing, is more 

 and more easily defended by the bees. My traps may be 

 slightly elevated, so that the he^t and odor of the hive pass 

 under them, and come out through small openings, iato 



