The Life of the Individual 
117 
the hive, and in case they are unable to remove the debris, 
they may cover it with propolis. Lizards (Fig. 62), small 
snakes and other intruders to the hive, which are too large 
for the workers to remove, are sometimes found as “mum¬ 
mies” on the hive bottom, sealed in propolis. The ventila¬ 
tion of the hive is accomplished by fanning of the wings. 
The colony exhibits an astonishing degree of efficiency in 
its ability to protect itself and the brood from excessively 
high inside temperatures by rapid ventilation through a rel¬ 
atively small opening at the entrance. 
Fig. G2. — Lizard incased in propolis. 
The guarding of the colony from intruders is interesting and 
of great importance to the colony. This is done by bees 
which stand about the entrance and on the lower edges of 
the combs of the brood chamber. These bees usually do 
not remain long at this work for the guards are constantly 
changing. The hand may be placed right among them if 
the movement is slow, while a swift movement will cause 
them to dart out and will bring others to the entrance. 
The honeybee is capable of preventing the entrance of in¬ 
sects larger and more powerful than itself, such as wasps 
and bumblebees. During the summer of 1909, small yellow- 
jackets were especially abundant in the apiary of the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture, then at College Park, Maryland, 
and many dead ones were found daily in front of the 
hives. Numerous large wasps with hard chitinous covering 
are also killed by the bees. The bee-moth in some way 
often succeeds in entering the hive but usually the eggs or 
larviE are removed before any harm is done. Their success 
probably depends upon their habit of flying by night. 
