The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1878]: being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of managementNeighbor, Alfred
Science
The apiary; or, bees, bee-hives, and bee culture [1878]: being a familiar account of the habits of bees, and the most improved methods of management
The object of these is to clear supers of bees previous to taking the
honey. There are several of them in use, but the principle of most is
the same. Clutton's bee-trap resembles one of the common round-holed
mouse-traps, but the bees have to pass out instead of in. Over the
little circular hole a pin is hung perpendicularly, and permitted by
wire staples to open far enough to allow the escape of the bee, after
which it falls back and denies readmission. The super having been
removed from the hive and inverted, the trap may be fitted into one of
the sides of a box, which, without its lid, is then inverted upon the
super, every opening being closed which could admit a bee from outside.
The super is then darkened, when the bees within will make for the
light through the trap. Mr. Cheshire and Mr. Aston have also invented
traps. Mr. Aston's has talc falls in place of pins.
§ XIX. DRONE-TRAPS.
If the increase of drones grows into an intolerable nuisance a trap
may be applied for their partial extermination. Aston's drone-trap
is an ingenious contrivance, though we recommend its use only under
limitations. It consists of a box to affix to the hive entrance,
with an opening from the inside, but no means of exit except through
perforations which admit only the workers; the bees are attracted into
it by the light, while their proper flight-hole is darkened by a ridge
over which they can just make their way into the hive. The drones are
thus left in the box to perish. The objections which we have to the
trap are--first, that the surmounting of the ridge must surely prove an
impediment to the work of the bees; secondly, that the ridge obstructs
ventilation; and thirdly, that should the queen stray into the trap,
she will, unless promptly discovered, soon share the same fate with
the drones. But if the trap be applied only for an hour or so at the
part of the day when the drones are leaving the hive in the greatest
numbers, it may then perhaps sufficiently effect its purpose and be
free from any serious drawback.
§ XX. BEE-FEEDERS.
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