THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 167 



deposit her eggs on the outside, or by means of her extensile oviposi- 

 tor, thrust them in between the slightest joint or crack, and the young 

 worms hatching from them, would readily make their way into the 

 hive. The moment the worm is hatched, it commences spinning a 

 silken tube for its protection, and this tube is enlarged as it increases 

 in size. This worm cuts its channels right through the comb, feeding 

 on the wax, and destroying the young bees on its way. When full- 

 grown, it creeps into a corner of the hive or under some ledge at the 

 bottom, and forms a tough white cocoon, of silk intermingled with its 

 own black excrement as in figure 92, h. In due time the moth emerges 

 from this cocoon. 



A worm-infested hive may generally be known by the discouraged 

 aspect which the bees present, and by the bottom-board being cover- 

 ed with pieces of bee-bread mixed with the black gunpowder-like ex- 

 crement of the worm. It must not be forgotten, however, that in the 

 spring of the year, pieces of bee-bread at the bottom of a hive when 

 not mixed with the black excrement, is not necessarily a sign of the 

 presence of the w T orrc, but, on the contrary, may indicate industry 

 and thrift. If a hive is very badly infested with the worm, it is bet- 

 ter to drive out the bees and secure what honey and w T ax there may 

 be left, than to preserve it as a moth breeder to infest the apiary. If 

 put into a new hive, the bees may do something, and if they do not, 

 f,here is no loss, as they would have perished, finally, from the rava- 

 ges of the worm. 



It should invariably be borne in mind that a strong stock of bees is 

 ever capable of resisting, to a great extent, the attacks of the worm ; 

 while a starved or queenless swarm is quite indifferent to its attacks. 

 In a common box hive, a good way to entrap the worms after they are 

 once in a hive, is to raise the front upon two small wooden blocks, 

 and to put apiece of woolen rag between the bottom-board and the 

 back of the hive. The worms find a cozy place under the rag, in 

 which they form their cocoons, and may there be found and killed, 

 from time to time. Much can be done in the way of prevention, by 

 killing every morning, the moths which may be found on the outside 

 of the hives. At this time of the day, they allow themselves to be 

 crushed, with very good grace; and if two or three be killed each 

 morning, they would form an important item at the end of the year, 

 especially when we recollect that each female is capable of furnish- 

 ing a hive with at least 300 eggs. In conclusion, I give it as my con- 

 viction that immunity from the ravages of this Bee-worm can only 

 be guaranteed where a thorough control is had of both hive and bees ; 

 hence the great importance of the movable frame hive. 



