. British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser. Bees. April 25, 1918. THE BRITI3H BEE JOURNAL. 141. Novice (Shrewsbury).—Testing foundation for adulteration.—The foundation is genuine. The brittleness was due to age and cold. That for shallow extracting combs is drone base, and is in general use for that purpose. A simple test is to place a small piece of wax in a test tube, add some spirits of turpentine, and gently heat over a spirit lamp. If the solution is imperfect, or very cloudy, or if a precipitate is formed, the wax is adulterated. Spirits of turpentine dis- solves pure wax completel
. British bee journal & bee-keepers adviser. Bees. April 25, 1918. THE BRITI3H BEE JOURNAL. 141. Novice (Shrewsbury).—Testing foundation for adulteration.—The foundation is genuine. The brittleness was due to age and cold. That for shallow extracting combs is drone base, and is in general use for that purpose. A simple test is to place a small piece of wax in a test tube, add some spirits of turpentine, and gently heat over a spirit lamp. If the solution is imperfect, or very cloudy, or if a precipitate is formed, the wax is adulterated. Spirits of turpentine dis- solves pure wax completely. You will find further particulars in " Wax ; F. J. (Ilkeston).—Commencing bee-keeping.—Get a copy of " The British Bee-keepers' Guide Book," Is. 8Jd. post free, from this office. It is not too late to commence this season, if you can get the hives and bees. The best type of hive is the Get Italian-Native hybrid bees. A new hive complete, with the frames fitted with foundation and wired, will cost about £3, carriage paid. An early swarm about 30s. If you get bees on combs the cost will be from £2 to £5, according to the number of combs covered by bees. W. H. M. Jones (Corbridge).—Identification of insect.—The insect sent is an Odynerus, one of the solitary mud-wa6ps. We have 15 species of Odynerus, and their habits are very similar. Their larvae feed on small caterpillars, and in order to keep them alive and in a fresh condition they are paralysed, but not killed. The food is thus kept fresh and virtually alive until the grub of the wasp devours* it. This condition of the victims is secured by the wasp skilfully sting- ing one or more of the chief nerve centres, and rendering them inoperative by her poison. When the wasp has placed sufficient food in the cell she abandons it, after closing the opening with mud, and in due time the perfect insect emerges. R. S. Owen (Devon).—Prevention -of " Isle of Wight " dis
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