GALLERIID.K^A CHKOIA. 1 5 1 



Laiu'a — length about five-eighths of au iuch; head polished, 

 dark brown, the lobes rounded and slightly narrower than 

 the second segment ; body cylindrical, of almost uniform 

 width throughout, but tapering a little toward the anal 

 segment ; there is a polished plate, dark brown behind, paler 

 in front, on the'hinder half of the second segment ; skia soft 

 and semi-translucent, the segmental divisions well defined; 

 ground colour of upper and undersides greyish-white, 

 through which the internal working of the muscles shows of 

 a purple shade ; a dark purplish pulsating vessel forms the 

 dorsal line ; spiracles minute, very dark brown. When it is 

 at rest the segmental divisions appear white from over- 

 lapping of the skin, but this is not observable when it is 

 crawling. (G. T. Porritt). 



August and September, and another generation, probably 

 feeding throughout the winter, certainly from January to 

 May ; on wax in bee-hives, especially in old hives. A very 

 active larva, throwing itself into violent contortions at the 

 slightest annoyance. 



PCPA pale brown, enclosed in a white cocoon ; usually 

 secreted under the outside ligaments near the entrance to a 

 hive. (Thos. Fyles.) 



This moth is exceedingly active on its fcd^ running over 

 and under the comb with such swiftness that it is quite 

 secure from the attack of any bee. At dusk it flies about 

 the hives and is seldom seen far away from them ; indeed it 

 actually buzzes at the entrance quite like a bee. It is very 

 destructive in an old hive, the preference being given to 

 wax which is not too new ; and the comb is so completely 

 riddled sometimes with the silk-lined galleries of its larva3 

 that the bees desert the hive utterly. The moth is best 

 obtained by securing the comb from such a deserted hive 

 and shutting it up in a close box; the larva3 will then feed 

 up and the moths emerge in plenty. It seems scarcely ever 



