[10] Entomology designates two species of wax moths; the greater is the most common gallerea cereana, and the smaller gallerea alvearia.
Amongst birds, that little marauder the blue titmouse, (parus major of Linneus) stands the foremost as their enemy, for, says Purchas, "she will eat ten or twelve Bees at a time, and by and by be ready for more; she feeds her young ones also with them. She eats not the whole Bee, but divides it in the middle, pulls out the bagge of honey, litting drop the skinny outside, in the spring she watches for them in the willow and sallow trees, and takes them when they are at their work." Destroy their nests in breeding time, and shoot them in winter. Lapoutre, a French Naturalist, assures us, "that he saw under a tree in which there was a tom-tit's nest, a surprising quantity of the scaly parts of Bees, which this bird had dropped from its nest." Sparrows and swallows have both an ill name, but I could never observe any great hurt done by either of them. Poultry will occasionally destroy Bees, for I once recollect seeing a hen and her brood pay dearly for their freedom with a hive, the chickens were all stung to death, and the hen escaped only with her life.
From mice, the surest safeguard is the single pedestal (see [fig. 1, 2 and 3]).
The destruction of Queen Wasps in the Spring, and wasps nests in the Summer, will prove the best security against these formidable enemies: Queen Wasps are seen in April and May, and are very easily captured, every one which is then destroyed, would probably have been the founder of a nest, which may be computed at 30,000, at least.
In Autumn, it is very common for Bees to rob and plunder each other's hives the best remedy for this evil, as well as to guard against wasps, is to contract the entrances; to effect this object, I would recommend a copper guard to be attached to each hive; (see [fig. 10], and [page 18].) the wooden one of Espenasse, as well as Huish's tin guard, I have found very inconvenient, which induced me to construct the one referred to. It is made of thin copper and stitched to the hive with copper wire, it has two sliders, one pierced with a number of small holes, and the other having one only, but large enough to allow the passage of one Bee through it. The advantages of this, above all other guards, arises from its not projecting beyond the hive, the alighting board not being encumbered by it, and the angles formed by Huish's with the hive, so annoying to the Bees, being avoided.
"In a word," says Purchas, "if you desire to have your Bees thrive, and prosper, keep them well from winds and wet, heat and cold, destroy their enemies, and let them enjoy a sufficiency of food gotten by their own industry; and if there be a want in some, timely supply them, and doubt not if, by God's blessing on your endeavours, the increase and prosperity of your Bees."
CHAPTER XII.
Directions for Hiving Swarms.
Bees managed upon the Depriving System, rarely swarm and are seldom found clustering at the mouth of the hive, for every bright hour during the honey season they seem to turn to profit, when however Clustering or Swarming takes place, it generally arises from the Box not having been put on sufficiently early in the season, or for the want of a second Box; if a swarm should from these causes be compelled to leave the hive, let it be put into a new improved Cottage Hive, (see [fig. 3.]) in the usual manner.
I have always adopted the plan of placing my swarms where they are to remain, within ten or fifteen minutes after the time of their being hived, and in this practice Gelieu agrees with me, for he says, "most people who have Bees allow their Swarms to remain till the evening in the place where they have alighted, and do not move them to the Apiary till after sunset, this method has many inconveniences.