1: 14 INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



developed. Puliation takes place within the pods, under clods or any 

 other convenient shelter. As a protection, a thin white cocoon is spun. 

 Jn this stage some of the insects hibernate, though many appear as 

 adults in late summer and fall. There is but one brood a year. The 

 adults appear in the spring, about May. 



Nature of Work. — The larvae bore through the pods and eat the 

 growing beans inside, as shown in Fig. 439. 



Distribution. — Most of the records concerning this pest have come 

 from the southern part of the State, where it is apparently well estab- 

 lished. As early as 1885 Albert Kcebele collected it in El Dorado 

 County, so it probably occurs in limited numbers in the central part as 

 well. The moth is believed to be of European or Asiatic origin, having 

 been imported into this country. 



Food Plants. — The growing beans in the pods of the bush-limas are 

 preferred, though occasionally other varieties of lima beans and the 

 pods of lupines are attacked. 



Control. — Early beans are the ones suffering most from the attacks 

 of the caterpillars, though the later plantings do not escape. As the 

 bush-lima is usually the only crop attacked it would be well to plant 

 the large and later varieties instead. 



THE BEE MOTH 



(iiillrrin mellonella (Linnaeus) (Family Pyralidae) 



(Phalcena mellonella Linnaeus) 



(Figs. 440, 441) 



Description. — The adult moths are from § to | inch long with a 

 wing expanse of from 1-]- to 1^ inches. The general color is gray, 

 though the anterior halves of the front wings which rest against the 

 sides of the body are dull lead color while the remainder which covers 

 the dorsum is light with distinct black markings. The hind wings are 

 yellowish-gray with dark tips. The body, legs and antenna? are 

 silvery-gray. The males are smaller than the females and are easily 

 recognized by a scallop on the outer margin of the fore wings and the 

 absence of palpi. 307 The eggs are elliptical, pearly-white and about ^V 

 inch long. The larva?, when first hatched, are white and when fully 

 matured vary from white to light dirty yellow with brown or black head 

 and prothoracic shield. In some individuals there are black markings 

 upon the dorsum, as shown in Fig. 440. The cocoon varies from 1 to 1] 

 inches in length, is white in color and though spun of fine silk is very 

 tough, stiff and bee proof. The pupa is rich brown in color and varies 

 from | to f inch in length. 



Life History. — The eggs are laid on or near the comb and hatch 

 within ten or twelve days. There are usually about three overlapping 

 broods a year. The winter is spent in the larval and pupal stages within 

 the cocoons. The adults begin to emerge in the spring, in April and 

 May, and soon begin egg-laying. The eggs of the first brood are laid 

 from about the middle of April to the middle of May, those of the second 

 brood from the middle of July to the middle of August, and of the 

 third brood from the last of September to the first of November. Larv&> 

 and pupa? of the second and third broods hibernate. As soon as hatched, 



307 Paddock, F. B., Jr. Ec. Ent. VII, p. 14, 1914. 



