298 
SUMMER. 
OTHER SYMPTOMS OF WORMS. 
But when the bees make no effort to dislodge the 
enemy or his works in old stocks, the case is some- 
what desperate ! Instead of the foregoing symptomsi 
we must look for something entirely different. But 
few young bees will be found. In their place we may 
find the faeces of the worms dropped on the board. 
During winter and spring the bees, in biting off the 
covering of cells to get at the honey, drop chips closely 
resembling it. To detect the difference and distinguish 
one from the other requires a little close inspection. 
The color of the faeces varies with the comb on which 
they feed, from white to brown and black. The size 
of these grains will be in proportion to the worm — 
from a mere speck to nearly as large as a pin-head : 
shape cylindrical, with obtuse ends: length about 
twice its diameter. By the quantity we can judge of 
the number. If the hive is full of combs the lower 
ends may appear perfect, while the middle or upper 
part is sometimes a mat of webs 1 
Whenever our stocks have become reduced from 
over-swarming or other cause, this is the next effect 
in succession that we must expect. Here is another 
important reason that we know the actual condition 
of our bees at all times ; we can then detect the 
worms very soon after they commence. In some in- 
stances we might save the stock by breaking out most 
of the combs, leaving just enough to be covered by 
the bees. When success attends this operation, it must 
be done before the worms have progressed to a tho- 
