Tom Barrett highlights a gap in out knowledge that has been annoying me for
some time.  There are so many creatures besides bees that inhabit or visit a
beehive that a hive has to be regarded as a small eco-system, and yet very
little is written about them unless, like mites, they are of economic
importance.
As an example I often find the attractive green shield bug in or around hives.
Is this because they are attracted to hives especially or because I am
attracted to hives especially and the shield bugs are everywhere?
Chris Slade