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XLbc
IRoitb
Bulletin
No.
of
Scotlanb
Collcae of agriculture.
26.
The
Natural
of
History
bee.
the
BY
JOHN
ANDERSON,
LECTURER
ABERDEEN:
M.A.,
IN
MILNE
1920
B.Sc,
BEE-KEEPING.
"
HUTCHISON
E.B:S.B.A.,
NOTE.
I
indebted
of
Proprietors
the
to
"
The
Bazaar,
Exchange
am
and
Mart
for
their
"
for
publication,
the
facsimile
originally
illustrations
entitled,
"
Chesliire's
prepared
Bees
and
keeping."
Bee-
J.
A.
THE
NATURAL
OF
HISTORY
THE
BEE.
By
JOHN
ANDERSON,
Lecturer
in
E.BtS.B.A.,
B.Sc,
M.A.,
Bee-keeping.
INTRODUCTION.
This
slight sketch
.duction
student
and
study of
the
to
is intended
is advised
the
"Langstroth
first
the
by
Dadant.
the
on
Members
borrow
these
this
because
the
volumes
borrowed
which
and
private
own
the
from
how
of
many
bee
of the
hard
outer
backbone.
limbs
which
are
is
first instance
bee-keeper
find
must
perusing
place
a
will
in
his
collection.
is without
of
the
crust
to
which
All
is
in the
skeleton
provided
Invertebrates
invertebrate
into
bony
its muscles
the
grouped together
subdivided
and
Bee,
Honey
the
internal
higher animals,
classed, therefore, among
a
them
ciation,
Asso-
the
After
serious
library,the
the
Classification
The
Stirling)may
the
in
expensive.
somewhat
C. P.
Mr.
library of
excellent
is recommended
are
enlarged,
his son,
by
to
or
Bee-keepers' Association
Scottish
from
course
books
later
Bees
"
as
and
Beveridge, B.D., Gartmore,
manuals
and
decide
J.
the
such
revised
as
eai'nest
R. Cheshire,
Frank
and
Dadant,
of
The
its ways.
late
Bee,"
Honey
late Charles
(Secretary, Rev.
the
intro-
simple
a
larger work,
some
Bee-keeping," vol. i.,by
merely
and
bee
refer to
to
be
to
animals
so
instead
attached.
are
or
that
animals
possess
great Phylum
Crustaceans
istic
character-
(almost
of
with
It
a
is
without
jointed
Arthropods,
all
aquatic),
creatures),and
(spider-like
predominantly active, and very
Insects.
The
successful
in
Arachnids
are
for existence.
are
Arthropods, and
all the
the
animals
other
half
than
More
of
alone
Insects
numerous
than
calling any
small
more
are
world
in the
animals
all the
Arthropods
the struggle
put together.
Insects,
Thoughtless people
animal
that
sure
insect, and
an
eight legs,while
and
the
head,
thorax
only
two
their
has
insect
three
and
be
insect
an
All
few
heads, very
more
never
insects
the
have
types display in development
has
has
six,
than
body
—
apparently
feelers
or
all the
and
on
higher
transformation
remarkable
a
less
antennse
wings,
spider
of the
spider
quite
be
a
nor
divisions
without
are
But
described.
while
—
would
people
most
so
has
of
way
well-marked
abdomen
divisions.
the
perhaps
spider should
a
in
are
or
metamorphosis.
Insect
divide
of
types
the
Class
creatures
the
scales.
The
it is
so
Saw-Flies, and
the
Hymenoptera
less
or
groups
or
resembling
that
Orders, each
each
other.
(Lepidoptera)constitute
by
transparent,
smaller
or
Moths
characterised
extraordinarilynumerous
so
into
more
and
beautiful
are
one
must
we
consisting
The
flies
Butter-
Order,
such
possession of four wings covered
four wings of the bee
are
gauzy
with
grouped
the
Wasps,
Ichneumon-Flies
to form
membrane-winged
insects.
the
the
with
and
Ants,
Order
of
the
the
Bees.
The
Family
of the
Apidaa
Bees
includes
all
Hymenoptera
pollen,and perhaps even
bee-keepers
will be surprised to learn that, in addition to the
honey bee
and
the very
familiar humble
(Apis),
bee (Bombus), there
are
in Britain
than
200
more
species,^^'hich belong to the group
of Solitary or non-social
bees.
Of these
the burrowers
are
which
collect
perhaps
they
make
honej- and
easiest
sandy banks
or
on
to
any
cells of
discover,for
fine
a
day
in
we
summer.
can
find
them
Inside
transparent material,
like
at
work
on
their burrows
oiled-ailk
or
skin,
gold-beater's
and
pollen,
There
is
worker
themselves
so
akin
"
is
commonly
colonies
break
survive
the
These
but
The
of
himself
bees
nest
working
as
soon
shown
by
All
(perennial
Genus
the
(the
Having
animal
in
a
A.
bee
of
and
supporting
be
humble
the
found
be
to
sting.
species
fasciata
India),
and
position
of
permanent
together
grouped
such
less
or
Egyptian
(the
A.
inellifica
A.
as
form
to
florea
bee),
(the
tiny
bee).
defined
now
and
world,
position
brood.
queen,
of
will
more
are
includes
bee),
(the giant
Indian
East
which
hive
common
dorsata
A.
^^jis,
of
Apis.
annual)
than
rather
a
colonies
form
which
Apidae,
of
Genus
The
undertake
the
Most
autumn
ground.
batch
than
the
queens
and
first
bees
but
the
fly, henceforth
late
hive
young
in
L.
W.
dwellers
the
the
flowers.
absence
the
all
indeed,
holes
the
bees,
F.
Mr.
to
season,
of
can
from
in
in
smaller
is
he
as
flowers
on
feed
to
humble
to
only
next
rearing
obtained
nectar
on
drones,
as
in
social
pass
colonies
bee
figured
and
they
the
or
are
autumn,
humble
the
cells.
the
have
Bombi,
related
nearly
They
new
in
of
bees
familiar
are
so
which
start
the
leaves
These
the
involved
drone
beautifully
not
in
larval
the
are
supposed.
winter,
duty
bees
so
are
up
the
and
honey
insides
the
to
of
paste
a
provided.
Bee."
queens
every
and
with
eggs
and
hive
Humble
country,
as
the
to
the
their
store
desci'ibed
well
these
caste,
the
on
Sladen's
in
attach
then
no
More
provision
to
the
indicated
study
Apis
its
relation
nielli
fiva
the
to
in
more
bee
honey
other
types,
detail.
in
we
the
are
of
head
The
the
the
of
crown
The
in
fringes on
moveable
at
obscure
the
for
are
the
smell
with
talk
by
outside
bee, surrounded
extraordinary
an
exemplified
in
of
which
are
render
on
them
the
the
who
was
The
typical
antennae
the
insect
comb
been
best worker
mandibles
the
Dust
or
jaws,
on
jaws
and
are
on
the
the
bee
dust
for the
so
other's
chitin,"
an
insensitive, and
In
order
to
hairs
fine
we
hairs
organs
to
to
see
the
with
would
apparatus
an
the
eyelashes
able
example,
has
otf
the
develop
that
For
the
that
be
may
these
on
do
each
"
all
are
they
of
dead,
cat.
depends
combing
have
is
sensitive
efficient,so
the
bees
consists
them,
they certainly
world, it has
of
provided.
less
Both
the
feel with
deal, but
injured.
outside
antennae
forelegs for
antennae.
for
the
whiskers
the
and
unfeeling envelope,
extent
the
sensitiveness
they
this
with
contact
when
repaired
by
them,
bee
of
leg
face of the
to the
by touching
wliich
material,
be
cannot
the
this
(a),two
antennae
bees
good
a
first
to the
Worker
simply
of
as
The
senses.
antennte.
sound,
a
hairs, but
to
extremely flexible,and
are
with
really
eyelids,a special
no
attached
are
talk
apparently
The
in
which
their
has
bee
attached
tend
the characteristic
of several
of
means
these
on
two
would
that
is attached
eyelashes
them, possibly hear
shell-like
which
the
joints. They
probably
antennae.
come
the
also bears
making
almost
since
jointed rods,
female, and
without
caught
eyes,
in
higher animals,
the
Dust
eyes.
is
of
case
simple
arranged
not
are
sides
the
on
of
eye-ball,being
the
over
simple
ball-and-socket
seat
the
in
as
away,
situated
thousands
many
"opelli."
called
sometimes
eyelashes
the bee
head
The
slender
by
the
cleaning
bee.
very
bee
of
winked
be
comb
lids
sight of
the
The
three
larger,and
of
consist
simple and two
arranged in a triangle on
are
are
eyes
Bee.
eyes,
are
eyes
head, and
speak, all
coi'ners
cannot
five
shape.
to
so
grow,
the
bears
They
hexagonal
but
bee
the
head.
the
of
compound
two
of
Head
simple
The
compound.
the
The
hairs
and
the
of
its
comb
beautifullyfigured by Cheshire,
the
bee
()?i)of
used
that
the
for
bee
Britain
work
making
has
produced.
sideways, like
comb, fighting,
HEAD
AND
(Magnified
a,
Autenna,
mxp.
Palpus
or
Feeler
Maxillary
;
I,
;
m,
Palpus
Ligula,
or
16
Mandible,
; pg,
Tongue
TONGUE
From
times.
or
Jaw
Outer
Paraglossa
;
OF
;
b, Bouton,
mx,
or
BEE.
Cheshire).
;
g,
Gum
Maxilla,
Spoon
or
of
Flap,
or
Inner
Jaw
the
same.
Epipharynx
;
Ip,
Labial
;
9
robbers by
seizing
from
the
is the
organ
of the
the
leg,and removing dead
bees and
debris
hive.
They also bear tactile hairs, and these
the delicacyof touch necessary in fashioning
probably ensure
comb.
The so-called tongue or proboscis
the wonderful
(I)is
not reallya tongue, but a prolongation
of the lower lip. This
heart
and
The
it up
mop
reach
to
thickly with
tube.
a
is unfolded
flower
covered
than
as
which
bee
with
the
does not
this
thorax,
and
cavity of
the
which
This
chest.
or
work
bee, and
is the
has
killed
bee
a
neck
bears
limbs.
the
so
down
It is
into
many-jointed
it is rather
much
suck
the
brush
a
the
up
nectar
organ.
Thorax.
the
connects
head
the six
is
the thorax
these
that
brushlike
white
narrow
very
thrust
nectar.
hairs, so
The
A
and
only part
for food.
four
legs and the
filled mainly with
thorax
The
carrii^
The
is the
by
uway
wings,
jart of
meaty
a
the
muscles
the
which
wasp,
off the
[" ^uts
w.i
witli
head, the
to its nest
legs,the wings and the abdomen, and Hies away
carrying only the lump of red meat constitutingthe tliorax
of the
bee.
The
A
second
Abdomen.
connects
isthmus, the petiole,
narrow
which
with
the abdomen,
This
is in sections,and
is the
largestdivision
the sections
jointsof
the
of the
body.
out
little
in and
move
thorax
a
that
telescope. It is by this means
is enlargedor reduced
The abdomen
the creature breathes.
by
action, and air passes in and out, not by the mouth
a telescopic
in the higher animals, but through a series of holes
as
nose
or
like
way
situated
the
along
found
but
the
a
on
none
bee
side of the
each
are
spiracles,
on
bee
would
At
the
extreme
which
the bee
is
a
go
head
on
as
bee.
abdomen
It is not
tip of
under
usual
the
Some
and
of these
some
holes,or
the
on
therefore,to
possible,
water, since the
with
abdomen
the
thorax,
drown
breathingof
head
is situated
important organ, for without
extinct.
long since have become
very
would
the
head.
by holding its
the
a
submerged.
the sting,
its presence
10
Legs.
The
already been mentioned that the first pairof legsbear
combs
(C.ei)for the eyelashes,and a very elaborate pair of
of these can
The use
combs
(E.a) for cleaning the antennae.
When
these issue from
be most
readilyobserved on drones.
the
hive
fine sunny
on
a
day they pause on the alighting
board
and
put up their forelegsalternatelyto their heads.
The
old bee-keepers said
wiping their eyes.
they were
Rather
they were
combing the dust out of their eyelashes,
It has
securing also that the sensitive hairs of the antennae
If one
of a bee
touches
the antenna
were
leady for use.
with
moist
a
finger the bee will immediately put up its
forelegand wipe the contaminated
organ.
The
second
pair of legs bear prominent spurs, which are
said to be used in removing the pollenpellets
from the baskets
the last pair of legs. On the hind legs of the worker
bee are
on
for collecting
structures
the wonderful
and carrying home
the
pollen. These have also been beautifully
figuredby Cheshire,
and
wlio
shows
The
last broad
both
the outside
jointwhich
metatarsus, bears
On
the
found
the
edges
the
are
is bare
bulky,
of
we
we
on
obser\'e
a
that
flower.
particular
honey
as
source
of
so-called
of
an
cart
full-blown
when
the
British
adulteration
combs
(B.p).
tibia, is
the
In
dust
shape
fact,the
over
the
found
Australian
of paper
The
paper.
scope
micro-
little
on
the
pollengrains always found
Eucalyptus pollen
with
sheet
colour, depending
the
would
a
all,but that each
at
are
honey
correspond to
is light and
Pollen.
on
and
load
the
corn.
flower
accidental admixture
honey.
planta,or
the
These
the
of
fallingout
it is not
definite
a
by Cheshire
Collection
fine dust
a
shows
particlehas
a
leading home
shake
the
of beautiful
bristles.
numerous
The
If
called
The
tibia on
pollen basket.
but along
hair,hollow and polished,
put
when
as
has
set
a
aspects of the hind leg.
or
arranged
framework
Cheshire
this, called
corbicula
side
outer
inside
its inside
on
above
joint
and
be
held
or
as
other
in
final test for the
in
a
sample of
conclusive proof
a
foreignhoney.
OF
LEGS
(Magnified
A,
p,
right leg,
third
plauta
metatarsus
or
tr, trochanter
D,
a,
second
;
antenna
comb
of
pollen. H,
I, seotion
of
;
leg ;
the
C, front
", brush.
body.
right leg.
of
v^
antenna
through pollen -basket,
c, antenna
ti, tibia, showing
right leg, side
of
comb.
cleaning,
n,
the
6, brush
more
comb,
pollen
basket
body,
c,
;
;
ci, eye-brush.
enlarged,
magnified
;
coxa
200
v,
velum
times.
;
G,
li,holding hairs; fa, farina
nerve;
v, velum
next
velum;
E, joint of first leg,
F, teeth
in process
Cheshire.)
From
B, third
i, tarsus.
6, brush.
tibia
antenna
times.
10
from
side
pincers.
wp,
right leg.
crosa-section
or
;
WORKER-BEE.
;
s,
scraping edge ; a, antenna
;
13
bee.
The
of the
flower
contact
with
the
webbed
be
in
engaged
and
gathering pollenalightsin
around, bringingits hairy body in
moves
the
anthers.
hairs
of the
The
stickypollengrains adhere
bee,and, when
worth
dealing with, the bee
apparently flies aimlesslyabout.
its wings in order to have
the
Close observation
pollen combs
are
combing
the
by
out
motion
a
combs
will
it has
rises from
In
taken
has
legs at
to
and
flower
the
realityit
that the
show
got enough
of all its
use
to
to
once.
legs bearing the
hind
being passed over the under side of the bee,
pollengrains adhering to the hairs. Then,
quick for the
togetherand
too
rubbed
are
heart
the
sets of
eye to follow,the two
the collected pollentransferred
the
When
the load is complete the two
pollen baskets.
pelletsof pollenare bean-shaped,of equal size, and almost
The
keeper,
beekind of pollen throughout.
invariablyof one
to
bee after bee
standing in front of his hives, sees
alightingon the boai-d with pollen baskets heavily laden,the
burdens
being
They
visited.
from
brown
different
the
the
colours
the
bee
wall-flower;
from
flowers
the
according to
light yellow from
clover; golden red
are
from
blue-black
When
of
sober
a
whin, and
the
poppy.
hive
the
enters
comb, shaking its body in
it goes
fussingover
the
typical way, apparently
this
looking for a cell in which to depositthe pollen. When
its fore legs,
wall
with
to the upper
it hangs on
is found
inserts its hind
legs into the coll,and then pushes off" the
pollen with the middle pair of legs. The two pelletsfall on
the pollen carrier pays
walls of the cell,and
no
the lower
bee presently
and younger
Another
attention to them.
more
along,inserts
comes
for about
two
found
will
be
and
neatly.
is
Honey
and
heat, but
used
element
when
in
that
into the
it
pollen has
the
cell,and
out
comes
been
around
moves
of
packed
the
down
cell it
firmly
carbo-hydrate, providing energy
sufiicient nitrogen to be
contain
not
The
tissue.
proteid or
nitrogenous
mainly
does
very
When
minutes.
a
.
forming
essential
brood
its head
a
is
and
specially
body-building,
necessary
is
supplied chiefly by the
being reared,
for
pollen. In Britain, pollenis
so
abundant
that
old
combs
14
tend
in
it,but
cloggedwith
be
to
Australia
parts of
many
such
plants,and in
deficiencyof pollen-bearing
the Australian
what
districts bees rapidly die out from
calls the "Disappearing Sickness."
is
there
a
keeper
Bee-
Propolis,
a
a
of
carrying home
In
material that the bees gather mainly off trees.
country various substitutes, such as tar, wet paint,
pollenbaskets
The
resinous
treeless
and
called
for the
used
varnish,are
and
"propolis,''
of the
hive,
down
the
air.
When
any
cracks
to
collected
in
This
purpose.
by
as
quiltso
same
is used
fill up
to
for the
also used
are
material
the inside
the bees to varnish
in the
prevent the
quantity it
to
fasten
upward
of
warm
used
daub
walls, and
escape
be
may
is
to
the
Bees
honey-comb, marring its beautiful appearance.
vary
to
collect
and
use
greatly as regards tendency
propolis. The
bees
black
of
known
Austria,
as
Carniolans, use
very
little
is
propolis,and consequently produce section honey which
The
bees
Caucasian
the
worst
are
beautifully white.
offenders, fasteningeverything firmly together with propolis
that the whole
hive may
be lifted by the top crate.
so
The
word
in front
of the city,"
means
propolis in Greek
and impliesthat certain bees build ramparts at the hive door
to exclude
robbers, and speciallyto exclude the death's-head
"
"
Such
moth.
of Punic
The
ramparts
bees
whole
"
which
of
has
such
a
seen
beautifully
are
been
door
provided
will
be
in
with
closed
a
too
by
nucleus
largea
a
stock
door.
curtain
of
propolis,
leaving only two small round holes at the two lower
just large enough to admit one bee at a time.
The
corners,
usee
bee-keeper who
plenty of quilts,and takes care
that
there are
the
of
no
the hive to permit
openings near
top
the
of
escape
air, will usually have
warm
propolis. Vaseline
It may
be
frames, and
is
smeared
on
the
on
frequentlyused
the
little trouble
to prevent
with
propolisation.
the lugs of the
carrjang
surfaces of section crates.
runners
bearing
Feet.
Each
curved
of the
hooks,
two
six feet of
largeand
the
bee
two
small,and with these the bee
is furnished
with
sharp
15
clingsecurelyto
can
face of the comb.
for the
bringsinto
On.
hooks,
action
polishedwood
soft,white, moist
a
glassthere
or
the bee folds them
so
the hooks.
between
ordinarily
rough surface,such
any
is
the
as
hold
foot-
no
of the way and
stickypad situated
out
and
So also the
flywalks on the window-pane,
and with
lens it is actually
a
possibleto see on the glassthe
of a fly. The ignorant or thoughtlessbee-keeper
footprints
sometimes
worries his bees by placingright over
their combs
This entangles
a
piece of blanket or other rough material.
the hooked
feet of the bees,with the result that they rapidly
lose their
tempers and sometimes
the top of the combs
placed on
such
lives.
their
even
should
The
be lightand
quilt
smooth, of
bed-ticking,or plain calico.
The bees readily
slipfrom under such a quilt,and, when they
down
the combs, other and heavier
are
quiltscan be
among
added tillthe loss of heat upward is reduced to a minimum.
material
window-blind,
as
Wings.
The
wings
wings of
and
in the
wings, as
but
to
two
much
very
walk
about
largefront
smaller hind wings. A singlepair of large
be very effective for flight,
blue-bottle,would
bee
the
in the
amid
in small
space.
In
the
bee
tucked
are
however,
flight,
singlepair of large wings is
of a set of hooks
device consisting
to
two
the bee has
thronging multitude, and
Before
cells.
entering the
largerfront wings, enabling the
the
number,
in
the
very narrow
hind wings of
smaller
four
inside the hive, where
way
the
enter
are
a
bee to
hive
the
underneath
away
move
to
even
readily
more
advantage pertaining
for the bee by a
obtained
the
on
the anterior
border
of
wing, which engage in a kind of curved ledge
the
of the larger front wing. Thus
the posteriorborder
on
flyingbee is apparently providedwith a singlepair of large
wings.
the
small
hind
Breathing.
As
of
already mentioned,
apertures on
each
spiracleslead to
ramify through
side
the
bee
of
its
an
intricate
every
part
of
breathes
through
body.
These
system
of
the
body
series
a
apertures or
tubes,
of
which
the'
bee
16
conveying
but the colourless blood
the blood is a carrier of oxygen,
animals
of the insect is not
a
higher
the
In
tissues.
the
directly to
oxygen
gas carrier,the
being distributed
oxygen
to every
tracheae
part of the
directlythrough the tubes or
of air,each of the
the free passage
insect's body. To ensure
tiny tubes is provided with a spiralthread of chitin,"which
from
coiled
like a
acts
prevents the tube
spring and
of aircollapsing. One result of having such a multitude
its body is that the insect is extremely light
tubes within
and
flight. This lightnessis well
buoyant, so facilitating
"
"
"
which
exemplitied in the Pond-skaters,
summer
day actually walking on
in any
clear pool.
be
can
surface
the
on
seen
of
the
a
water
Wax.
Wax
is
wax
consume
within
motionless
secreted
eight
wax
in
unlike
large numbers
of
leaves
The
When
scales
with
them
up
white
—
bush
the
its
with
So
bee
filled with
water
the
has
wax
so
hive.
remained
night
over-
wax
newly made
comb
it picks off the
its
The
while
mouth, and
comb
the
scales
are
The
which
and
snow
reflect the
If the
caves
in
a
is
parent.
trans-
transparent, and
cases.
whiteness
works
produced
so
wax
ice is
in both
explanation is the same
honeycomb are full of little caves
produce the effect of whiteness.
be
to
—although
is white
solidifies in
floor of the
the
make
to
its mandibles.
snow
newly
glitteringwith
is about
white
the
produced
frequentlyfound
are
swarm
a
feet, carries them
almost
or
which
on
of
little bits
on
in clusters
hours
and
on
produce
to
hang
glands
debris
the
found
sometimes
are
scales.
a
then
fish scales, and
among
about
several
the
The
pockets.
wax
not
are
oil from
like
and
After
hive.
the
oozes
little
Bees
abdomen.
quantity of honey
a
situated
produced by eight glands
surface of the
under
the
secretion
a
the
the
lightand
snowball
disappears.
Honeycomb.
Honeycomb
is
one
of the
extraordinarydelicacyand
can
hardly
be
touched
wonders
beauty, and
without
danger
of
the
is
of
world.
It has
fragilethat it
breaking the cells.
so
18
to
come
would
be
the old bees would
end, because
an
no
bees
worker
young
The
to
die out, and
there
replacethem.
Bee.
Queen
is the
bee is the specialised
egg layer. She
queen or mother
Her
it is to lay eggs.
whose
sole function
state mother
other
activities
The
all her
limited
are
be
energiesmay
far
as
directed
possiblein
as
to this
one
end.
order
Her
that
tongue
nectary of any flower, so that she
in a garden of plenty. She
would
has no
starve
apparatus
for collecting
or
carrying home pollen. The wax
glands are
entirelywanting, so she could not produce the smallest bit of
ovaries
comb.
But
her
are
enormously developed, and
Dzierzon
Beemasters
the greatest of German
showed, by
is capable of laying at least three
actual count, that a queen
in a day.
thousand
She does not maintain
that rate
eggs
throughout the year, her egg-laying being appropriate to
She
rule continue
the season.
can
as
a
laying for about
fertile
three years, so that a stock provided with
a
young
in a prosperous
remain
condition for that period.
may
queen
On the other hand, a stock consistingonly of workers
would
is too
short
to
the
reach
—
become
But
—
extinct
few
a
months.
will
queen
business of
ultimatelybecome exhausted, and will
fail in the
laying eggs. So she must be replaced
The
by a daughter, reared by the workers for this purpose.
is not perfectlyfertile unless mated
([ueen, however,
young
to
the
in
drone.
a
This
occurs
day, and
produced by every
on
a
this
fine
in her
once
is
lifetime
hundreds
why
in the
of
open
drones
air
are
stock
during the summer
The drone
act of mating and
the queen
season.
She
will not lay any
returns
to the hive.
eggs that day,
the next, but
will start laying on
the second
nor
day after
mating, and will continue to lay eggs, producing either male
female
for a period of two
three years.
or
or
oflspring,
prosperous
dies in the
The
The
Drone
drone's activities
the queen.
He
has
no
wax
are
or
even
Male
more
glands ;
no
Bee.
restricted than
those of
apparatus for collecting
19
pollen;
his
and
has
he
continued
the
he
is the
which
because
a
no
that
so
few
they
for which
in
of
to
stock
the
old
until
be
small
dark
object,
relatively weak,
are
the
for
hive, and
departing.
wing
fine
every
likely
are
queens
This
is the
only duty
they perform
this
with
the
drones
be
hive
does
to
contain
until
that
a
at
very
First
is
killed
time
when
most
there
must
be
the
in the
adult
pulled
of
out
to
keeper
beeseason
the
stock.
the
season,
out
finally
The
queen,
and
if the
time
starvation.
late
the
cold
sacrificed,and
fertile
a
of
any
supply food
to
following spring,and
at
of
being
drones
not
perish
brood
is
die
to
measures
live
drone
brood
worker
the
prompt
destroyed
the
begin
to
man
"queen-right"
every
starvation.
of
sight
sees
ofi" indicates
queen.
its drones
lazy
a
drone.
the
harvest,
honey
apparently
who
compare
to
—
may
the
To
injustice
an
forth
bees
allowed
the
worker.
the
those
possiblydo, namely, gather
cannot
expelled, next
particularstock
the
of
young
lazy by
he
the
within
worker
the
what
of
the
take
When
magnificent pair
the
purposes.
called
drives
who
will
do
cells,then
should
of
inside
on
that
supply
the
ensure
entering and
be
when
muscles
great
legs
on
fitted,and
been
bees
are
the
mating
are
end
comes
drones
His
is to
hours
is therefore
But
want.
queen;
his
that
except
use
drone
pollen like
the
of
stock
of
for
to
and
At
afar
alightingboard
sunny
has
drone
a
in
the
the
him
honey
flight.
never
drones
drone
expect
the
outside
the
hive
time
being
diligence,their whole
life is indeed
active flight. Their
strenuous, although
utmost
the
in
the
forth
come
spent
of
the
from
detect
may
are
function
day during
to
of
that
examination
accommodate
to
queen
steps on
The
than
to
wings, a spacious abdomen
for
rapid motion, a
necessary
oxygen
eyes
An
thorax
developed
work
shorter
even
will
structure
sting.
he is specialisedfor rapid, powerful, and
longflight. He has a great spread of wing, a highly
that
show
is
tongue
drones
or
even
presence
of
drones
in
drones
have
been
killed
something
wrong
with
a
20
The
The
noticeable
most
Queen.
of the
Laying
thing
about
the
is the
queen
great
projects beyond the
development of the abdomen, which
the huge ovaries, which, in the
wings. It accommodates
day
laying season, are extremely active, producing in one
in eggs.
The
than twice the weight of the queen
more
legs
of
the
highly developed, because
are
queen
life in
walking.
queen
was
The
first
describe
to
man
clergyman, the
of Applegarth, who, in 1840,
Minister
on
the
bee, and
on
the
title page.
was
modest
so
When
that
William
wrote
Langstroth,the
father
the
book
put his
not
her
Dunbar,
beautiful
a
did
he
spends
laying of
the
Rev.
Scotch
a
she
name
of American
content
to
bee-keeping,published his book in 1851, he was
quote, with acknowledgment, the Scotch parson's description
of the laying of the (]ueen.
she
During the laying season
walks
cell
until
situated
surface
the
over
finds
she
well
within
of
comb,
part of the hive.
warm
cell after
examining
freshly varnished,
empty,
one
the
the
She
and
bends
her
into the cell, turns
body sharply, inserts her abdomen
round
until she is looking downwards
and
deposits an egg
in the cell. At this period she is waited
by a number
upon
of workers, who
the queen
at all
keep their heads towards
times and supply her with
anything that she requires. It
is their duty to see
that she does not waste
her time looking
for food, or in making her toilet.
They perform all offices
for the
the
queen, and thus enable
business
of laying eggs.
The
she
because
can
The
sperm
might
be
little reservoir
a
received
cells remain
old
become
has
lost
queen
fertilisation.
her
or
from
sperm
the
cells
—
or
and
been
exhausted, but it is
the
drone
power
of
her
become
to
life,
she
mating.
active
produce
drones
—
for
what
drones
suggested that
the
likelythat
the
more
working
her
in which
at
to
mind
in
sac
inadvertent
it has
whole
once
ready to
however, begin
accidental
worker
has
set
alive and
queens,
called
to
requires mating only
sperm
Very
produced in
sperm
has
the
store
years.
bee
queen
her
the
mechanism
of
21
Sometimes
a
entire
scarcityor
remains
fails to
queen
absence
of
the
possiblythrough
mate,
drones.
In
such
she
cases
virgin queen, and, if weather permit,she makes
to
frequentflightsin search of a drone. At last she seems
laying without being mated at
give up hope,and commences
all. The
but produce only
eggs develop in the normal
way,
a
laid in drone
drones, whether
Brood
The
shape.
and
thread, and
and
the
with
no
acid
to
of
secretion
undeveloped
in
functionless in the
active
apparently
known
raw
bee
to
and
Jelly."
because
has
in
the
the
and
pollen are
the
drone, but
Whatever
its
more
than
white
At
found
added
queens
origin
a
to
are
But
later
a
the
fed
it must
grub
by
has
in the
and
they
are
the
an
there
but
is
of
head
the
worker
younger
the little grub grows
increased
in
days,
three
"
shrunken
are
brood.
Under
Royal Jelly
''
foragerbees.
feed
honey
this
In
white
observer.
about
just
eye.
bluish
tiny
a
is
sting. It is fed
white
jelly,which
thin
queen,
old
of
in
is
glands situated
glands are not
the
bit
a
hatches
that
suppose
These
bee.
naked
origin is undecided,
Its
two
the
close
a
emerges
and
no
of
kind
a
taste.
reason
worker
that
cell,and
the
by
like
to
egg
wings,
on
pungent
good
the
creature
legs,no
of
bottom
clearly visible
It is attached
rounded.
are
cell it looks
the
is
bees
ends
easily detected
circumstances
worker
cells.
Rearing.
the
to
be
to
of
bottom
both
end
by the smaller
large enough
normal
worker
is quite unlike a fowl's egg in
egg laid by the queen
end
the other,
It is elongated,wider
at one
than
slightlycurved,
the
in
or
drone,
is
the
the
are
apparently
large and
bees, which
are
stage it is said that
ration
of the worker
"
Royal
be very
nourishing,
in six days its weight
throughout
on
apace, and
times.
thousand
day from the hatching of the egg the
it over
with
a
worker-grub is fully fed, and the bees cover
to allow
and wax,
the
as
so
porous
cap composed of pollen
rest of the development goes
The
bee to breathe.
young
On
the
sixth
Missing
Page
Missing
Page
24
of
Supersedure
Queens.
be
cannot
bee-keepers imagine that an old queen
replacedexcept by swarming, but a little thought will suggest
that
since the old queen
normally accompanies the first
Some
there
swarm,
will
come
superseded
without
bees
make
a
and
generally
selected
when
the
In
such
swarming.
few
the
at
old
of
close
the
must
queen
than
more
three,
The
harvest.
honey
she
and
emerge,
the old mother.
with
to
live
may
be
the
circumstances
cells,usually not
queen
is allowed
queen
in
weeks
time
a
for
Sometimes,
along
and daughter may
be laying in the same
indeed, both mother
hive.
The
so
supersedure of the queen occurs
quietly that
it may
be missed
even
by an observant
bee-keeper,and we
thus
the
hive
get stories of
phenomenal
that
queens
have
fact
ages, the
being
had been quietlyreplacedby the
of the bee-keeper.
supposedto
been
that
old worn-out
the
bees
live to
without
the
queen
knowledge
Swarming.
Swarming
are
natural
a
become
to
not
is
function
which
extinct ; for it is
must
if bees
occur
by swarming
that
stocks
lost
and
so
forth, are replaced.
by disease, by queenlessness,
Bees about
to swarm
make
preparationinside and outside the
hive.
The
inside preparation consists in storing the
hive
from floor to ceilingas it were.
There
must
be abundance
of
bees, brood, honey, and
pollen,and, as a rule, the whole
available
left
never
the stores
bee
made
leave
The
fixed
hive.
filled with
those
all behind
only
and
comb.
that
The
have
go out
A
so
as
much
As
of
number
to
normal
by
as
provide
time
the
a
queen
queens
for the
sealingof
queen
that
most
only
a
first
days
to
gather
by
also
forth
with
or
top
queen
to
over
each
been
the
successive
on
different
on
advanced
seven
have
started
are
mature
leaving of
the
takes
cells
carried
is
home
the world
start
to
old
helped
be
honej? as can
fillingits honey-sac. Preparations
to replace the
that
is to go
queen
swarm.
days
be
destitute,while
with
again
must
space
swarm
dates.
is
cell in the
develop after
26
interval
of absence
enough
to
to
which
it is clustered, and
If
it is inconvenient
shifted from
not
may
able
find
to
How
It
is known
direction
the
covered
bees
to
manage
it
find
bees
the
for
exceeds
12,000
find their
way
\vhich
the
scouts.
skep, or
the
to
be
that the scouts
so
return.
Hives.
stock
a
of
distance
a
by
once,
bush,
the
their
(jf
on
ought
temporarily,
their
on
Bees
that
in every
area
it
contain
to
at
and
swarin
bush
the
marked
swarm
neighbourhoodof
the
be
the
his
secure
duly
was
hive
to
receptacleused
other
to
neighbourhoodof
the
it from
remove
long, but is usually long
or
bee-keeper
the
enable
short
be
may
about
own
that
s(j
do
then
their
to
country
2^ miles,
How
acres.
back
the
range
the
It
hive ?
homing pigeons and certain
or
animals
other
homing instinct
possess a specialsense
is represented N'ery poorly, if at
of direction
which
sense
all,in the human
species. The practicalbee-keeper is awaie,
liowever, that bi.'esdo not need any specialextraordinarysense
has
been
suggested that
bees
and
"
"
—
—
—
for
The
locating their home.
liberated
in
a
cautiously from
towards
is \ery
situation
new
a
stock
characteristic.
hive, fly in front
the
of
behaviour
of it with
it, obviously observing minutely the
of bees
They
issue
tiieir heads
of
appearance
objectsin its iauncdiate neighbourhood. The
of their flightgradually increases until finallytlieyare
area
high up in the air describinggreat circles,evidentlyobserving
the greater landmarks
a
big tree, a cliurch spire,a prominent
their hive, and
the
—
The
cloud of
building,a stretch of water.
direction over
been darting about in every
a
and again to enter
to gradually condense
seen
observations
have
and
now
A
they
stock
are
of bees
been
ready
made,
to
their
proceed
on
new
a
bees
wide
the
which
area
hive.
situation
has
is
now
Their
located,
foragingexpedition.
took
on
a
by steamer
journey, which
liberated
arrival.
three
Within
on
days to complete, was
bees with full loads of pollen were
4.5 minutes
seen
entering
It had
taken
the strangers just three quarters of
the hive.
hour to locate the positionof their home, and to find the
an
sent
27
of
treasures
the
from
the
hive
field.
and
unfamiliar, but
waiidor
foraging bee may
itself in surroundings more
or
find
it
only requires
landmarks
perceivethe great
big tree,
The
high
for its home
prominent house,
or
rise
to
the
as
in
the
—
case
less
air
the
church
to
spire,
Queens
be.
may
far
in
preparing for their mating flightcarefullylocate the
positionof the hive, and, at the final stage, rise by great
also
circles
of
the
from
night
of
to
in
place
of
observation
idea
erroneous
the
this
that
the
blue
empyrean,
might
otherwise
"
birds, who
that
the
shiftingof
the
lead
may
If
bees.
the
will
unaware
spot where
the
perturbed, will
which
mating
remote
profane
hive
of two
three
or
has
stance
been
themselves.
move
with
which
accomplished
have
been
hive
and
if
steps
the
in
which
the
for
the
night.
next
they
stock
bees
can
They
day,
and
situation.
receptacle makes
the
and
to
they proceed
the
will
have
be
are
then
in
the
it
up,
This
enforced
bees
very
a
certain
time
mark
the
method
all have
in
new
box,
entered
afternoon
the
their
cautious
they
temporary
sojourn
carefully the
that
Another
a
readily
closing the
to
care
to
thousand
bees
until
to
the
relocate
be
that
when
confined
transferred
that
to
can
the
placed..
evening
distance
a
bee-keeper requires
for
take
to
attempt
or
to
greatly
of twelve
barrow
been
kept
forth
steps
a
area
then
closed
of
lifted at
observe
claim
a
towards
mark
will
inform
to
on
loss
the
shifted
take
Americans
bees
be
acquainted, but
it round
The
stock
will
taken
are
without
become
stance,
arises when
are
The
which
transfer
new
and
within
they
wheeling
position in
of the
bees
moved.
sufiicient.
is to
of
will
old
issuing bees
changed
stock
the
If the
the
and
going
formerly stood,
then
Difficulty
a
acres
miles
bees
change, and, returning
any
perish on
either
of
instance, be
apiary, bees
of
neighbouring hives.
enter
hive, for
part of the
be
stock
a
groat confusion
to
another
morning
the
quite
of
precaution
number
is
It is the
ceremony."
due
to
the
haunts
It is evident
a
air.
takes
queen
the
the
the
rise to
given
has
in
high
hive
own
in
a
coming
at
strange
forth,
position.
28
Conclusion.
We
know
but
bee,
of
of
ignorant
and
profitable
most
discoveries
been
for
of
made
by
had
who
followed
which
becoming
This
rich.
do
much
observe
publish
to
advance
carefully,
the
result
bee
is
noteworthy,
of
thought
for
its
in
these
be
may
thoughtful
record
his
and
and
methodically,
observations.
bees
the
bee,
and
that
have
keepers,
bee-
earnest
but
patience
a
and
haste
therefore,
intelligent
of
interesting
with
hustle
concluded,
knowledge
our
of
still
research,
systematic
days
the
also,
by
but
sake,
own
be
concerning
men
in
undoubtedly
are
would
It
the
copying,
appeared
which
scientific
no
of
we
of
way
have
importance
trained
rare
the
class
first
Bulletin
that
suggestion
the
know.
to
us
and
of
history'
the
that
about
knowledge
is
into
got
writers,
facts
natural
the
statements
earlier
many
about
have
verification,
publications
not
authors
many
without
deal
great
a
in
he
due
will
be
the
with
bee-keeper
if
to
majr
only
course
NOTE.
The
for
blocks
I.,
Figs.
and
II.,
which
IV.,
in
this
appear
lent
kindly
Bulletin,
by
J.
Messrs.
T.
Burgess
"
Son,
were
and
Exeter
for
of
the
indebted
the
four^'blocks
other
I
use
;
to
Messrs.
Steele
am
"
Brodie,
Wormit,
Fife.
J.
A.
HOW
TO
HANDLE
BEES.
By
JOHN
ANDERSON,
M.A.,
Lecturer
B.Sc,
E.B:S.B.A.,
Bee-keeping.
in
INTEODUCTION.
Many
people
impression
that
somebody
quite
and
hive
the
near
property of the
bee
to
get out, and
to
the
is
actually grateful
had
a
of
business
been
not
would
since
delectable, and
of
We
who
"
worked
him, and
he
like
a
poet, has
contrary, any
of
learn
will
to
handle
admit, when
dreadfully
afraid
principles which
handle
bees
to
and
be
cannot
be
person
ordinary
an
bees
born,
of
is
of
It
bees.
species
is
product
regarded
so
such
that
is that
is true,
also, that
the
bee-master,
a
easily
can
know
to
On
intelligence,and
patience,
man
a
made.
be
cannot
of
is not
he
seemed
bees
acquired,
and
and
who
kind
a
as
suggestion
The
matter
a
which
to
such
the
average
amount
they
bee-master
expert
of
told
stung."
got
never
of
management
the
bees, and
the
among
the
novice
the
to
gloves
frequently
are
their
—
great deal of credit
a
if
enemies.
seems
or
defence
of
many
bees
veil
receives
entitled.
so
only
strictly
attends
stings, because,
extinct
difficultythat
without
bees
wizard, and
have
private
is anxious
room
moans
some
the
thoughtful bee-keeper
have
become
qf live
extreme
handles
of
have
they
handling
such
bees
that
intruder
the
with
garden
The
moment.
possessed
long
The
the
the
in
work
at
inoffensive
unless
a
for
seeking
very
interfere
to
inside
bee
A
a
attack
an
likely
colony.
is
bee
the
have
they
about
going
reality,a
volunteers
never
because
creature
a
In
bees
keep
to
is
bee
a
stiug.
to
insect, which
is
afraid
are
the
possessed
and
quickly
all the
experts
closely questioned,that they began by being
of
must
the
be
bees.
kept
receive, in the
But
in
there
view
process,
are
by
a
a
those
minimum
few
simple
who
would
of
stings.
of the
Situation
It
is
frequent practice to
a
garden,behind
where
the
bees
the
bees
bee-hives
the
set
of
In
view.
bee-keeper, and
they
such
back
a
situation,
a
connected
associations
unpleasant
in
out-of-the-wayplace,
other
some
usually out
are
have
visits of the
in
hedge, or
a
Hive.
likely
are
with
the
attack
to
him
a
dwelling-house,where
people
sight. If placed near
the
bees
used
to
soon
frequentlypassing,the
get
appearance
on
human
beings,and
This
that
swarms
about
behind
bees
•
from
coming
placed
since
the
and
be
not
of
one
hives, and
a
hand,
other
a
turned
modern
should
is
of
material
attached
to
the
manipulation
be
to
in
use
for
of
these,
On
little
as
it
the
case.
any
moved
shelter
as
freely,even
combs.
are
He
stings on
will
that
his
^'^"'?^^-
delicacy of
the
shelter
be
or
Bee-keeper.
from
important
wall,
a
the
account,
originallyto
over
able
the
to
excellent
mu.st
of
way
this
in
get
at first that they are
frequentlyso nervous
both veil and gloves. The latter can
be obtained
that is quite sting-proof,and
with
long sleeves
the gloves (Figure I.),
the bee-keeperis quite safe
Beginners
wear
be
handling
for
Protection
glad to
hive
the
On
close
or
them.
of
out
built
right
in
someone
see
fields.
with
advantage
bee-keeper can
its back
interfere
be
possible,and the bees
while
the bee-keeper
the
provided
did not
to
be
sheds
low
or
the
may
to
with
set
those
has
skep
he
going
skeps. -gj»he shed
straw
straw
in
that
hear
of
animals.
additional
lost,for
be
that
harmless
as
the
to
sure
placed
so
them, in order
hi\'e should
a
be
must
has
likely to
so
is almost
house
hives
The
not
are
the
dwellings
to
proximity
them
regard
to
come
are
in
touch
and
and
handling
bees, and
and
difficulty,
deftness
bees.
make
them
to
help
His
in
mere
less easy
in
soon
the
the
ever,
discover, how-
gloves hamper
movements
clumsiness
eliminating the
much,
very
deprive him
manipulation
to control.
hands.
of
that
that
is
so
will irritate
To
meet
this
gloves, Messrs.
J. T.
Burgess
leave
the
On
the
Exeter, provide bee
fingersbare,
shown
as
special occasions
have
may
in
odd
hands
take
to
hole
a
some
wall,
a
lead
out
from
or
of
corner
would
bees
roof
a
the
to
jerked
of
of
out
their
floor,where
or
receivingof
frames
the
travellingbox.
lifted,and, perhaps, most
general, however,
thrown
aside,
and
used
The
veil
in
(Figure III.) is
writer
has
gloves
soon
are
the
on
very
the
veil
net, of
a
the
over
that
hat
or
of
collar
netting, or
any
of
III.
Figure
In
carrying out
off their
as
prevent those
the
hive
the
find
may
crawling over
any
bees
has
that
outstanding
his hands
cuffs of his
clearness
are
are
coat.
shaking the
bees, still too
several
ground.
the
flying upwards
except
veils
involves
be found
by cyclists,may
bees from
crawling up
young
bee-keeper
coarse
carry.
operation which
one
of
colour
other
on
clips,
Trouser
convenient
used
are
When
combs,
fly,are
to
young
any
to
under
tucked
wire-fronted
vision, and
inconvenient
readilyslipped
seriously with
black, interfere
The
fine black
Veils
coat.
use
less.
of
and
cap,
the
of
be
can
the
honey
would
veil is made
shape
the
smoker
the
and
more
in
bee-masters
expert
of
comfort
the
increase
an
convenient
moat
the
for
the
affirmingthat
in
hesitation
for
if
crop,
category,and
different
a
make
bees, and
within
In
saved.
again, except
no
it would
such
easily be
them
the
that
bottom
the
on
could
in
be
might
occasions.
rarest
bees
lying
brood
found
be
be
combs
more
of
number
needless
found
the
of his bare
use
gloves, these
of
to
never
the
a
or
be
With
it will
II.
Figure
stings. Then, during transit,one
the
gloves which
in Figure II.
experienced bee-keeper
find gloves useful.
He
may
of
Son, of
points of
certain
the
"
the
the
legs.
combs
be
likely to
These
to
are
within
caught
brought
6
to flyout
stop very suddenly,and are too surprised
immediately. Presently,they reflect that the fabric with
which
they are in contact is like the quilt of the hive, and
also suggests the proximity of the cluster of bees.
the warmth
So those bewildered
insects proceed upward in the hope of
keeper,
their fellows.
soon
getting in among
By and by the beewhile
bending his arm, will pinch the exploring bee,
to
dead
a
and
will be
stung.
obviate
To
danger, gauntlets,as shown
in Figure IV., may
be
worn.
elastic band
Alternatively,an
the sleeve,
be slipped over
may
the
be
cuff
or
merely
may
to
turned
back
so
as
tighten
this
Figure
IV.
it round
The
smoker
The
the
modern
to contain
smoke
on
though
very
most
largelyused
it is difiicult to
efficient.
through
wrist.
Smoker.
useful
implement available for
bee-keeper.It consists essentiallyof a fire-box
some
fuel,with an attached bellows for pufling the
The
to the bees.
Clark
Cold Blast (Figure V.)
very
because
is the
the
the
In
this
fire-box.
in this
country, is not recommended,
lightand
and
keep lighted,
type the blast of
The
popular
air
does
Bingham
is not
not
pass
Smoker
(FigureVI.)
is of
the
hot
likist
in
when
gettingburnt
is
no
shield
a
in
shield
for
every
detail
smoker
on
to
smoker
the
nozzle.
away
side
the
of
same
the
a
go
the
the
the
fire-box.
fire-box.
has
from
hands
been
As
well
The
the
one
one
can
thought
VII
hook
with
which
hive.
The
Root
type, but
without
to
hang
Junior
the front
the
is
a
hinge
corrugated paper, such as is used
packing glass-ware. It lights very readily,but burns
quickly,generating great heat in proportion to
very
For
for
the
of
smaller
to
provision of
the
to
even
keep
implement indeed, with
Figure
out,
to
with
contact
fine
very
Figure VII.,
from
see
a
it has
defect, that
has
by coming
Standard
Root
and
use,
"
to
VI.
Figme
out"
is less liable
type,
fuel
many
employ
the
smoke
unless
readily
it has
wood
rotten
treated
been
"
Moleskin
"
and
is
used, but, frequently,there
than
the
easy
to
of
light as
smoke
of
fuel should
size to fit
a
should
be
it easier
the
the
smoker
until
the
bellows,
the
fuel has
the
have
of
honey
and
at
that
to
smoke
mainly
be
in
bees
hollow
attacked
their
honey.
such
marauders
by
In
find
may
ha\'e
Then, by working
be
will
if
in
their
trees
animal
their
would
in
which
it induced
and
honey,
the
view
bees
sting. Langstroth,
to
curve
In
with
is that
the
made
abdomen
it
sharply
the
full
bee
natural
seem
effort to
rapidly
very
view
correct
imagine
what
of
who
burgle
necessarilyshake
the
they
dwelt
they
to
rob
home
of
the
efi'ect
have
There
desired
the
it would
habitat, when
great forests.
enemies
fact
a
all.
more
to
it is
case,
any
smoke
stings at
try
we
produced.
it is that
why
world.
a
of
barrel
the
animals, full of good humour,
in contact
probably get
for them
meant
it
Smoke.
of
Another
all the
they
upon
fire.
with
to
well-fed
most
brought
shall
them
sting.
with
peace
forget that
We
of
is like
bees
for
the
apply
to
as
within
disinclined
are
honey-sacs
physicallj?difficult
so
and
smoker,
bee-keeper,suggested that
fill their
to
so
cj'linder
a
beginner
smoke
Effect
lightlysmoked
great American
bees
of
question is frequently asked
been
the
The
caught
cloud
Subduing
The
of
of the
lighted match
powerful
a
end.
lower
fuel is not
form
the
barrel
about
produces abundance
easily extinguished.
it
it is not
the
be
at the fireside,but he will
lightthe smoker
in windy
art of lighting up
outside, even
holding
by
but
not
may
sacking lying
This
is
usually
and
material
season.
loosely in
easily inside
at first to
weather,
liot,and
too
lighted at
a
paper,
be rolled
acquire the
soon
in
use
corrugated
is not
that
The
will
bee-keeper
old
more
or
excellent, but
are
New
burlap.
or
very
Punk
till all
out
goes
convenient,
Very
plentiful,is sacking
saltpetre.
with
corduroy
obtainable.
always readily
out
goes
paper
rarely
lights easily,and
consumed.
very
brown
Ordinary
produced.
tree
would
them
the
and
of
bees,
attract
10
of
Use
In the
of
case
advised
well
will be
hive.
of the
the
door
the
entrance, who
In
since all
are
have
most
cases
obsessed
with
to think
honey
while
will
bee
fire with
a
busy fillingup
too
using their stings. In such
the bee-keeper'shands
over
of
little
sometimes
it is
the idea that
The
a
singleangry
a
they will be
deal, and
to
of which,
hive.
frames, and
not
roof.
the
the
gently back,
tops of the
then
hive, provides a
the
entirelyfrom
rolled
near
operator
all
place the quilts,
to
now
the
over
also.
them
they
with
is
The
frame
a
face
and
they will crawl
without
making the slightestattempt to sting,unless
clumsy enough to pinch or otherwise injure them.
of
mind
experts do not approve of blowing
entrance, and
begin by liftingoff the roof.
Some
tempered stock, or in
be all right,but
may
few
the roof
of
removal
bees
rush
may
sight of
a
fly at
will
the
will
These
will
communicated
such
extreme
from
doors
not
in
robber
a
the
that
to
hand
so
the
measures
to
smoke
more
ha^'e to
with
are
their
bees
the
wing.
be avoided.
The
of
the
They
and
stings,
all the
with
in
time
and
numerous,
the
a
their
deal with.
time
in
should
in
bees
that
on
them
the
alarmed
the
that
and
proceed
to
that
smoke,
confirms
bees
this
of the disturber
hive, annoying him
angry
good-
extent
an
is
the
at
a
chance
any
him
in
With
to such
bee-keeper should
apply
become
to
hive
the
search
they
smoke
he
honey harvest,
encountered
close at
If such
apiary.
have
hive
intruder, menacing
him
he is in the
is essential
it is
that
will go with
he
have
the
always
jar the
of
out
bee-keeper so
first notion
is
there
may
These
their peace.
height of
the
at
hive, and
of the
quietlyremoves
beside
removed
are
bees
the
is blown
which
which
stationed
bees
bees.
other
in
little smoke
a
interior
the
into
of the hive, and
lowest,
except the
quilt next
be seen,
startles the
the
receptaclein
convenient
between
This
placed upside down
This, when
smoke
by blowing
among
back
the
to
passes
start
will pass
alarm
spread the
to
temper, the bee-keeper
of unknown
stock
a
Smoker.
the
it
his
work,
the
hive.
panic
will
be
necessity for
11
Manipulation
It is not
frames.
advisable
There
and moved
be
extra
to the
the
bees
to
been
be
assembling
combs,
In
in
the
propolised—
comb.
smoke
should
be
then
can
side of the
is
the
replacedat
process the
of fire,and
during the
the alarm
the
on
hive,
all the
When
dummy
time
side.
one
brushing
When
fully
way.
threatening manner
a
tops of the
applied.
theory advanced, it will be evident
handling the bees will dependlargely
the
in
of the
will have
tightly,they
same
in
construction
correct
upon
the
recovering from
comfort
and
ease
at
if
—
replacedagainst the
If at any
with
accordance
obtained
the next
on
to be
little more
a
be
gently loosened
duly examined,
observed
are
that
is
side of the hive.
other
can
available space.
It
hive, without the necessityof
is handled
next
have
combs
space
against their fellows
examined, this comb
and
for
completelyfilled with
at least one
dummy, by
of the
centre
lifted clear of the
the bees
hive
a
room
is then
adjacentcomb
The
be
should
Combs.
the
to have
of which
the removal
of
be
to
hive.
wrenched
If roofs
or
lifts fit
off,and
volumes
of
the bees that stingsare
not then suffice to convince
may
with which to preserve their property. The
not the best means
be justright if the
of the inside of the hive must
dimensions
smoke
combs
of
an
are
to be
inch
at
build
bees may
On
hive.
the
ends
of the
frames
frames
may
propolis.In either case the combs cannot
some
degreeof violence,which is sure to
If
bees.
reduced
the bees
with
half-inch
the
moth-cocoons, which
If the
at
the
comb
space
at
be
frames
upper
sinks
sides of the
less than
that
have
corners,
often
arouse
the
fasten
it is left behind
not
these
fastened
without
such
has
when
be
may
bottom
down, and the bottom
that
frame
the
nailed
bar will be found
filled
bar
through the
jointsfrequentlygive
been
become
extent
an
space
the
in the
anger
bottom
a
with
in
be removed
through shrinkageof the wood to
can
no
longer pass, this narrowed
firmlyto the floor
removed.
forcibly
the
to
quarter
a
exceeded, the
been
has
of
are
hand, if these end-spaces
inch, the
an
frames
joiningthe
combs
the other
quarter of
If the bee space
reallymovable.
so
is
dovetails
way,
the
propolised
12
to
one
it
ordinary way,
the
is
There
lifted out.
Similarly,if
jointssecure.
been
not
have
frames
properly wired, or
has been used, the consequent irregularity
the
inferior foundation
much
slow
stress
replacethem
and
remove
vibration.
hardly be laid on
handling bees. Under
can
when
movements
those
Deliberation.
and
Gentleness
Too
making
producingundue
and
crushing bees
without
for
it difficult to
will make
of the combs
necessityfor
the
favourable
right through the combs of a hive
time
if the bee-keeper has plenty of patience,and
normally
object. The bee, like most other insects,moves
bees, to go
smoke
is
—
no
at
ditions,
con-
Italian
pure
without
any
with
especially
perfectlypossible,
it is
is
bee
when
unwisdom
for such
excuse
no
f-in.nails
supply special
firms
in
such a frame
attempts to remove
often happens that only the top bar
When
floor.
the
high
a
of
rate
The
movements.
speed,and is scarcelyconscious of slow
experiencedbee-keeper,as if by instinct,
everythingslowly,so as to avoid attractingthe attention
visitor to the apiary is
This explains why
a
of the bees.
The
liable to be stung than is the bee-keeper himself.
more
bees flypast his face,and indulges in
when
visitor is alarmed
does
rapid gestures which
flying about
number
of
arrives at two
(1) that
he
is
the
stinging him.
The
who
bees
was
fact
is sometimes
that he may
needless
unseasonable
times, can
provoke
result
of which
the
ments
move-
further
is that
are
the
erroneous,
bees, and
(2) that
consciouslyrefrain
from
to
they would
sting anybody'
indulgein rapid movements.
Time
for
real
Manipulation.
danger
first stock
them, and it should
handling of.
further
the
is that
manipulate his
lose
The
to
bee-master, and
Suitable
beginnermay
these
bees.
increase
induces
conclusions,both
enough
nervous
There
the
obnoxious
peculiarly
know
the
This
hands, and
part of
the
bees, and
the
head.
his
visitor's
the
hostilityon
novice
irritate
the
bees,
only do
or
be
that
the
of bees
so
excessively
impressed on
opening
harm.
enthusiastic
If
of
no
the
him
hive
that
at
veil is worn,
13
and
stingsare
to be
used, so
are
to demoralise
as
veil,in order
a
bees that
when
work
and
use
little
as
to frustrate
At
such
^moke
the
irritable
more
weather
worker
when
with
the
robbers
nerves
are
on
hives.
of the
the
have
season
their work
such
of
more
Influence
"
easilysubdued
out
and
the
will
run
makes
into
a
it easy
keeper
beeto
two
or
bees
very
days,
to
"
drive
Italians
are
without
"
"
or
much
more
to
and
their
have
much
are
to
it
late autumn,
their
more
be used.
irritable, but
and
of
sides of the
off their
This
a
skep
hive, pour
and
disturbance
"
venience.
incon-
combs, and
characteristic
of black
docile,and
much
If too
panic.
trouble.
drum
especially
Strain.
nervous
much
the
on
approaches
who
readilyshaken
hive
new
and
the
they
the
in the
mostly
appear
and
over"
the
largely ceased,
Race
produce
be
can
In
has
state
time
irritable,because
will have
a
recommend
docile.
smoke
are
with, since
great effect
seasons
to
"boil
door, and
Pure-bred
can
bees.
frequently
of Italians
If a comb
at all.
any smoke
gently lifted out of the hive, the bees will remain at their
be handled
be
wet
nectar
bees
reduced
they
They
of
"
black
is used,
at
and
unfavourable
handle, and
So-called
one
this
at
more
in the fields.
flow
Others
will be
prowling round, the bees
edge,and may attack anyone
difiicult to
smoke
bees
and
and
natural
At
the
possible,and
less interfered
the younger
Cold
temper of the bees.
the
showery weather, make
inteiferes
time
a
as
attack
of the bees will be
fields,
leavingat home
The
the
ance,
fields,
might result in great disturb-
foraginghas largelyceased by that time.
the very
middle
of the day, holding that
older
day, when
dangerousduringthe handlingprocess.
opening the hives only in the late afternoon,
advise
the
stances,
circum-
these
of the
have
may
become
might
Many
'
to
Under
middle
consequent loss of honey.
is advised
wear
the bees.
in the
in the
busy
very
and
avoided, a good deal of smoke
examination
an
bees
to be
work, and
comb
without
is held
workers
queen will frequentlygo
In similar
in the sunshine.
the
would
be
running
up
and
down
on
laying while
the
circumstances, black
over
the
comb, and
14
the black
to
between
frame.
the
dark
the
edge
of
comb
the
and
then
usually
readilypass
can
generallyfound
slot
the
side, through
bottom
the
of
bar
the
not
are
difficult to subdue
is crossed
the Italian bee
When
she
of the comb, where
vicious and
more
She
once.
off their combs, are
readilyshaken
drive, and, when
fullyroused by unskilful handling,
Italians
difficult to
are
laying at
cease
to the bottom
retreats
over
would
queen
than
with
blacks.
are
black,
the
a
mongrel
hj^bridis produced,which, like most crosses, is an
excellent worker, very
vigorous and active, and resistant to
but
sometimes
also
disease.
are
prolific,
Thej' are
very
in temper
and
difficult to handle.
uncertain
Experienced
bee-keepers find hybrids excellent for the production of
extracted
honey, but their comb honey is not so white as that
produced by blacks.
(jv
so-called
of
Manipulation
Bee-keepersare
of
still in
skeps are
skeppist as
is
the
hive, is
in at the
door, and
smoke
lifted
skep is then
up\vard, at
a
the
maiiieuvre
f"jragers. The
the
drone
from
noticeable
warning
One
an
that
cannot
see
able
handle
to
hives.
The
alarm
of fire
be
to
board, and
from
distance
knowledge of the
his skeps is very
requiredthan
its
thousands
many
its
bees
first step,as
by blowing
with
frame
a
The
greater.
turned, mouth
stance.
this
By
operator is less likelyto be stung by returning
weight of
the
stores, and,
worker
in
be
is bound
hive
gives
indication
some
by pressing the
readily observe
can
an
is
bodily from
little
of
amount
apart,one
to create
tlae interference
hive, because
inside
on
in frame
more
the
cases
expert should
the modern
Skeps.
class,and
many
going
those
skeps as readilyas
with
In
use.
what
indeed, but
meagre
in
to
conservative
a
in
Bees
sealed
brood.
Queen
combs
brood, and
cells
are
a
of
little
distinguish
particularly
upturned skep, and the bee-keeperthus gets
for swarming.
preparations are being made
eggs or grubs unless by cuttingout a pieceof
comb.
It is not
"
tops,"but
easy
it
can
to
be
handle
a
done
with
skep furnished
a
little
more
with
ekes
trouble.
or
The
15
combs
and
usually fastened
are
it is
not
frequently
breaking any
advisable to keep
be
also be left in
top may
to
it
remove
With
only to
difficult to lift the
eke without
may
eke
the
to
of the
In
attached
it may
or
position,
skep
straw
combs.
the eke
slightextent,
a
to
be
other
off the
it
cases
A
skep.
the
convenient
more
temporarily.
old
an
filled with
skep
of several
toughened by the
larvss,there is little danger
combs,
generationsof
of combs
breaking,especiallyin skeps furnished with crosscombs
sticks,but a skep filled with new
pretty well filled
with honey, even
be
these are
built round
when
sticks,must
cocoons
handled
with
greatly
increased
great
very
if
The
care.
the
danger
be
skep
of
combs
the
with
held
is
disaster
horizontal.
While
the
skep is being examined
will have
field bees
the
the
large numbers, and will be crawling over
board.
be jerked off by strikingthe edge of
These
should
the board
againstthe ground. The board is then scraped
clean, the skep replaced on
it, and the whole
placed back
returned
on
the
in
old
stance.
Other
Bee-keeperswho
a
pipe
admitted
of
that
tobacco
Subduing
smokers
are
instead
panic among
smoking, and
of
Methods
Bees,
special bee-smoker,
a
bees.
smoke
But
cannot
one
the result is that
too
it
and
effectual
is very
wear
much
smoke
and
tobacco
frequentlyuse
in
must
creating
veil
a
is
be
while
frequently
used-
pipe is the subduing cloth,
It
frequentlyused alone or in conjunction with a smoker.
the
consists of a cloth large enough to cover
tops of the
chemical
and
frames
some
strong-smelling
sprinkled with
More
diluted
generallyuseful
with
water.
than
Carbolic
the
acid is
frequentlyused, but
has
Jeyes'Fluid,
disadvantagethat it is not soluble in water.
beingnon-corrosive and readilymixible with water, has been
two
to use
It is frequentlyconvenient
used with
success.
and rolling
the one
cloths,unrolling
up the other, so that only
the
one
or
two
combs
are
uncovered
at
one
time.
During
the
16
that would
In
be
hive.
demoralized
by
were
of
the
cloth
it is necessarj',
the
bees
just
use
intimidate
to
if its combs
attack
the defenders
making
smoker,
liable to
very
while
exposed
protectionto
this affords considerable
robbingseason
Placingthe
of the
front
in
cloth
inside
fully
were
smoke.
with
as
the
of
door
the
stock
a
the
for half
entrance
a
quilt next the bees is
action by the subduing
peeled off and replaced in the same
be accomplished so deftly that not a bee
cloth,and this may
will fly up.
The
bees set up a great humming, and retreat
from
minute
the "poison gas." In about
one
a
edge of the
minute
or
cloth
ma}'
When
not
a
rolled
be
in
the
use
in
bag
sponge
sufficient.
will be
so
back
Effects
A
bee
crawls
since
the
to
out
others
of
the
should
be
handled
kept
in
canister
a
long
as
in
or
possible.
as
only by stingingit between
bee
and
armour,
bee
a
sting
has
that
the
deli\ered
so
received
is
mortal
a
hive, using mainly its
the
usual.
as
by Stings.
Produced
A
bees
it moist
keep
kill another
can
joints of its chitinous
usually rapidly fatal.
wound
and
cloth
order
The
fore-legs,
frequently paralysed at an early stage.
The abdomen
of such a bee has a typicallytwisted look, which
persistsafter death, and enables the bee-keeper to tell by
examination
of the dead
bees when
fightinghas been going
at
on
are
hive.
a
Applied
the
skin
human
followed later
sting produces a sharp pain,
swelling. We cannot
promise
that
be
him
to
by characteristic
bee-keeper will never
the
that
in
most
he
cases
receiving a certain number
a
stung, but
will
we
assure
after
acquire immunity
of stings. l''he pain of the sting
"
"
of infliction will still be felt,but
at the moment
can
this will not
than a second
or
two, and there will be no
persistfor more
after effect.
other
This
or
s^\'elling
immunity is almost
keeper
certainlydue to the development in the blood of the beeof
As
there
an
antitoxin
indicated
are
continues
a
to
in the
few
very
be
a
which
neutralizes
for
Bulletin
people
serious
to
matter.
the
sting-poison.
Prospecti\'e
Bee-keepers,
whom
even
In
such
singlesting
a
cases,
sting
a
18
visiblydigging
is
sting
and
more
itself
into
deeper
poisonis being poured into
more
the
the
skin, while
This
wound.
with
all speed,
sting should be removed
not be simply plucked out by fingerand thumb,
and it must
venom
the poison-sacand drive more
for this would
squeeze
The
into the wound,
finger-nailor the blade of a knife
sheath just
should be placedagainstthe point of the brown
indicates
the
that
the
it enters
where
without
any
order- that
pressure
stings near
it is advisable
the
that
sting should be scrapedout
being applied to the poison-sac. In
be quickly removed
the eyes should
bee-keeper should carry a tiny pocket
skin, and
the
mirror.
for
recommended
been
specificshave
pain
allay the
bee-stings, each
being guaranteed to
immediately and to prevent all swelling. Alkalis, such as
ammonia,
are
frequently recommended, on the ground that
A
bee
whole
is
venom
of
host
a
weak
solution
of
formic
acid.
The
fact
is
is just as effectual after its acidityhas been
sting-poison
completely neutralized,and, in any case, the microscopically
small aperture made
by the stinghas completely closed long
before anything can
be applied. The
active principlein the
poison is probably a very subtle substance, and the only
efficient antidote
is that
secret
prepared in Nature's
within
the
laboratory,situated in this case
body of the
bee-keeper that has been frequently stung.
that
Conclusion.
An
the
attempt
various
at
to
an
handle
some
methods
perusal of
made
to
explain
to
the
beginner
by the expert in handling bees. In
principles underlying the practice have
the
discussed
been
used
methods
cases
has
a
length so that the bee-keepermay use
with
intelligence.It is not claimed
bulletin
bees, but
occasional
most
been
the
that
is the
a
revisal
quickest or best way of learning
study of the problem beforehand, with
as
experienceis acquired,should be of
considerable service.
It is
essential,however, that the
opportunity
of
seeing bees
handled
novice
by
should
a
have
competent
an
bee-
19
Every
master.
number
a
of
welcome
unable
to
Aberdeen
of
hastily
know
necessarily
must
"kept"
have
and
be
may
the
who
bee-keepers
bees,
and
little
have
of
rapid
been
if
progress
advanced.
He
as
experience
by
his
that
he
will
own,
might
over,
is
thus
Scotland
learn
in
the
budding
willing
to
profit
by
and
otherwise
will
the
uiistakes
the
into
of
been
spread
of
handling
to
give
initial
not
a
culties
diffi-
make
of
one
other
number
others
assist
them,
the
will
expert
crowd
have
art
Once
who
contained
delighted
beginner.
a
is
large
the
be
time
some
On
a
not
handle
what
hives.
would
these
to
got
to
for
to
of
own
of
should
Many
unable
unite
In
two.
them.
manage
their
should
or
bees
be
may
U(jvice
kept
ignorant
north
the
one
any
have
years.
of
demonstration
private
well
in
have
we
entirely
chambers
has
are
who
lesson
a
the
to
years
almost
brood
hand,
how
for
bees
for
who
one
at
opportunities,
demonstrator
that
assume
such
always
maintained
Beginners,
of
a
centres
are
iVpiaries
bee-keeper
such
various
bee-keepers
City.
themselves
conduets
Bee-keeping
at
College
competent
a
selection
too
in
in
and
area,
the
avail
to
apply
in
visit
and
Craibstone
the
College
to
Lecturer
demonstrations
public
the
throughout
the
summer
veiy
far
so
others
season
over
as
the
several