62 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



with the great size of the insect and the grotesque representation 

 of a skull on its back, have led to much superstition and terror 

 concerning it among the peasants of some countries of Europe, 

 most of them regarding it as a harbinger of evil. 



But it is more particularly as an enemy to the honey-bee that I 

 wished to refer to this insect ; hence, with these few general 

 references to its striking peculiarities, I will proceed with that 

 portion of the subject. 



I think it was the blind naturalist F. Huber who, in 1804, first 

 called attention to the depredations of this moth in connection 

 with the honey-bee. The moth is very fond of honey and ap 

 proaches the entrances of the hives just at nightfall and attempts 

 to gain entrance. It is at this hour that the workers are most on 

 the alert for enemies. The field-bees have all returned home, 

 and in front of the populous hives numbers of them may be seen 

 clustered about the entrances. The Death's-Head Moth poising 

 a moment before the entrance of such a hive soon sees that it 

 would be a hopeless task to gain admittance there. The workers 

 exhibit signs of great excitement, numbers of them running to 

 ward the edge of the alighting-board and some even darting 

 toward the moth. Should the moth alight it will be instantly 

 seized by the nearest bees, the contented, continuous hum of 

 the hive ceases at once, and a sharp, quickly and frequently 

 uttered note of alarm calls forth additional defenders of the hive 

 as fast as thev can pour through the exit. The moth redoubles 

 its efforts, uttering constantly its peculiar cry of terror. Should 

 the moth escape, as it is very likely to do on account of its great 

 strength and the violent fluttering of its powerful wings as well as 

 the confusion which its note seems to occasion among its enemies, 

 the offender is certain to leave the apiary at once. If a less 

 populous hive having a large entrance should be attacked, and 

 the moth succeed in gliding in without encountering guards, it 

 will regale itself with the contents of a number of honey-cells, 

 though the report which Huber gave, to the effect that it would 

 suck up a tablespoonful of honey at one time, seems rather over 

 drawn. The moth runs great risks for the sake of this sip of 

 nectar, as the chances are greatly against its ever getting out 

 alive. Even though the colony be weak, still some workers are 

 likely, in the summer season, to be on all combs which contain 

 honey, and once the alarm has been given the intruder is soon 

 compassed about and is quite sure to become so confused as to be 

 unable to regain the hive entrance. Having finally despatched 

 the moth with their stings, the bees commence to denude the 

 wings and body of all scales and pubescence, frequently biting oft' 

 legs and antennae, nor do they leave it until they have completely 

 skeletonized the wings and removed all internal organs, leaving 

 merely the chitinous frame of the insect intact, as shown in the 



