April, '14] PADDOCK: OBSERVATION ON BEE-MOTH 183 



Much experimental summer work will continue to be done in the 

 open, away from any permanent structure as formerly. Winter storage 

 for material will be provided elsewhere without difficulty, and in some 

 cases with conditions more nearly normal. 



President P. J. Parrott: I have no doubt that some of the mem- 

 bers have in mind either building a new in sectary or rebuilding an old 

 one. The paper is now open for discussion. 



Mr. W. M. Wheeler: Our experience coincides very closely with 

 that of Mr. W. C. O'Kane's. We have a glass enclosed greenhouse 

 which we use only for winter work. As much work as possible is 

 done out-of-doors so that natural conditions can be secured. We 

 have a shed under which we keep pupse in the winter. This problem 

 has been under consideration for some time, but we have not yet 

 decided whether to construct a new insectary. 



President P. J, Parrott: The next paper is by Mr. F. B. Paddock 

 on ''Some Observations on the Bee Moth." 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE BEE-MOTH 



F. B. Paddock, College Station, Texas 



The bee-moth (Galleria mellonella L.) is an insect which has been 

 known as a pest for over two thousand years. ^ However, during that 

 time it has received but little attention from entomologists, though its 

 occurrence has been noted from time to time in several countries. In 

 Germany the habits and life history were briefly given in some notes 

 made by Dr. E. L. Taschenberg in 1880.^ In the United States limited 

 observations have been made upon this insect. Perhaps the account 

 by Prof. A. J. Cook^ is the most complete as he has brought together 

 the opinions of several writers. As far as we have ascertained the bee- 

 moth is now found in Italy, Germany, France, England, Ireland, India, 

 Australia, and in most of the bee-keeping sections of the United States. 



The Adult. The moth is about five eighths of an inch (15 mm.) in 

 length, and has a wing expanse of about one and one-quarter inches 

 (30-32 mm.). When the wings are folded, the moth appears ashy-gray 

 in color, though the rear third of the front wing is bronze colored. The 

 dense covering of scales on the wings and the body is easily rubbed off 



1 Manual of the Apiary, A. J. Cook, p. 485. "These moths were known to writers 

 of antiquity, as even Aristotle tells of their injury, . . . they are often referred 

 to by European writers as a terrible pest." 



^Inseckten Kunde, Vol. Ill, p. 251. 



» Manual of the Apiary, A. J. Cook, pp. 482-487. 



