2l6 



THE STUDY OF INSECTS 



Thk Bee-moth Group 



This is a small subfamily of which only seven species have been found 

 in our fauna. The best known of these is the bee-moth, Gallctia mello- 

 nella. The larva of this species is a well-known pest in apiaries. It 

 feeds upon wax; and makes silk-lined galleries in the honey-comb, thus 

 destroying it. When-full grown the larva is about i inch in length. It 

 lies hidden in its gallery during the day, and feeds only at night, when 

 the tired-out bees are sleeping the sleep of the 

 just. When ready to pupate the caterpillar 

 spins a tough cocoon against the side of the 

 hive. 



The moth has purplish-brown front wings, and 

 1 >r< >wn or faded yellow hind wings. The fore wings 

 of the male are deeply notched at the end, while 

 those of the female (Fig. 372) are but slightly 

 so. The female moth creeps into the hive at night to lay her eggs. 



This pest is found most often in weak colonies of bees, which it 

 frequently destroys. The best preventive of its injuries is to keep the 

 colonies of bees strong. Of course the moths and larvae should be de- 

 stroyed whenever found. 



Fg. 372. — Galleria mcUonella. 



Some live 



The Phycitids 



Our most common members of this subfamily are small moths with 

 rather narrow but long fore w r ings, which are banded or mottled with 

 shades of gray or brown. This is a very large subfamily; more than 

 three hundred species have been described from our fauna, and there are 

 doubtless many undescribed species in this country. 



The larvae of the different species vary greatly in habits, 

 in flowers, some fold or roll leaves within which they live 

 and feed; some are borers; others feed upon dried fruits, 

 or flour and meal; and one, at least, is predacious, feed- 

 ing on coccids. Usually the larva lives in a silken tube 

 or case, lying concealed by day and feeding by night. 

 The case made by certain of the leaf-eating species is 

 very characteristic in form (Fig. 373), being strongly 

 tapering and much curved; in this instance the case is 

 composed largely of the excrement of the larva. 



The following species are those that have attracted most 

 attention on account of their economic importance. 



The Indian-meal moth, Plodia inter pun ctella. — This is the best- 

 known of the species that infest stored provisions. The larva is the 

 small whitish worm, with a brownish-yellow head, that spins thin silken 

 tubes through meal or among yeast -cakes or in bags or boxes of dried 

 fruits. The moth expands about | of an inch. The basal two-fifths of 

 the fore wing is dull white or cream-colored; the outer part reddish- 

 brown, with irregular bands of blackish scales. 



The Mediterranean flour-moth, Ephestia kithnicUa, is an even more 

 serious pest than the preceding species, which it resembles in habits. It 

 has become very troublesome in recent years in flour-mills. The moth 

 expands about 1 inch and is grayish in color. 



