134 THE HISTORY OF BEES. 
Wafps are fome of their warft enemies, by which 
many hives are entirely deftroyed. They begin firft 
with the dead Bees upon the ground, pulling them to 
pieces, and carrying them to their nefts. Afterwards 
they grow more bold and impudent, and pafling the 
guard they adventure into the hive, where fometimes 
the Bees feizing them, punifh them with death, and di- 
reGily bury them. , a 
Wafps by nature are ftronger than Bees, and better 
able to endure hardfhip ; and when the cold weather 
comes they often defpoil poor and weak ftocks. I had 
one many years ago entirely demalifhed, being at a dif- 
tance, and not under my own infpection. 
- In fpring deftroy to your power the great wafps at 
their firft appearance. You will find them upon the 
goofeberries and currants when they bloflom; here I 
have often caught and killedthem, And by eae one 
of thefe you deftroy a whole neft at once. 
Once moving a Bee-ftone in my garden, which had 
lain fome time upon the ground, one of thefe wafps im- 
mediately took wing, and faved herfelf by flight. 
Upon a very ftrict furvey of the place, | efpied a comb 
newly begun, in which there was five cells of an une- 
qual depth, and in three of them there was young 
brood ; the other two were empty. 
Every one of thefe wafps fingly and alone, without 
any fecond, makes a neft. Spare none of thefe; if you 
can by any means get them in your power, fhew them 
no favour. Afterwards fearch for their nefts, and when 
found, burn or fcald them, which will be a fignal fervice 
to your Bees, Hornets 
