On Tue, 3 Mar 1998, Frederick L. Hollen wrote:
 
> The Romans used to load hives of bees on their catapults and
> throw them at their enemies.  This was so effective that they
> depleted central Italy of bee colonies for their ammunition.
>
> Considering the leather skirts, tunics, etc. worn by ancient
> soldiers, a hive crashing down in the middle of a cohort of
> advancing soldiers, or over the wall of a fortress, would
> likely have been quite effective. . .
>
> In the Middle Ages, defenders of castles would sometimes drop
> hives over the walls into the beseiging armies.
 
It seems more likely the "bee hives" were aerial hornet (yellowjacket)
nests. These insects are mean to begin with and can sting repeatedly,
whereas, as we all know, a honey bee worker can sting but once.
 
*************************************************************************
Tom Culliney    Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry,
1428 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96814, U.S.A.
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"To a rough approximation and setting aside vertebrate chauvinism, it can
   be said that essentially all organisms are insects."--R.M. May (1988)
"Bugs are not going to inherit the earth. They own it now. So we might as
   well make peace with the landlord."--T. Eisner (1989)