§ VIII. ROBBING.
We have had many times to allude to the truly sad character which our little favourites bear in this particular. Directions as to the precautions necessitated thereby have been given pretty generally in connection with operations in which it is to be feared, so that one or two general remarks are all that need be added here. Von Berlepsch stoutly maintains that there are no professional robbers amongst the bees, but that all are ready to lend a hand in a job of the kind when it is to be had. This is probably true in great part, but not to the extent that there exist no individual differences in the strength of the propensity, and the remark quoted from Dzierzon on "black" bees ([page 72]) may be taken as expressive of the other side of the truth.
It is queenless stocks, nucleus hives, and weak colonies in general that have most need for protection against enemies of their own kind. By keeping the entrances narrowed, and feeding carefully without leaving a trace of food about, the enticements to plunder may be kept down as much as possible. It has been recently recommended in extreme cases to saturate a rag with carbolic acid diluted with water (fully half); this will effectually repel all except those who have no other home to which to betake themselves. But it will be obnoxious to these latter as well, so should not be lightly resorted to.
Mr. Langstroth has a capital little bit about a highhanded piece of audacity that has been occasionally observed in our insect. House-robbing, it seems, is not bad enough for them, but they will even go the length of acting as highwaymen and garotters. For thus runs the story of their waylaying and despoiling the humble bee: "Seizing the honest fellow they give him to understand that they want his honey. If they killed him they would never be able to extract his spoils from their deep recesses; they therefore bite and tease him, after their most approved fashion, all the time singing in his ears, 'Your honey or your life,' until he empties his capacious receptacle, when they release him and lick up his sweets."