OR, MANUAI, OF THB APIARY. 487 



should be crushed. Any larva seen about the bottom-board, 

 seeking place to spin its cocoon, or any pup^, either on comb 

 or in crack, should also be killed. If, through carelessness, a 

 colony has become thoroughly victimized by these filthy wax- 

 devourers, then the bees and any combs not attacked should 

 be transferred to another hive, after which the old hive should 

 be sulphured by use of the smoker, as before described ; then 

 by giving one or two each of the remaining combs to strong 

 colonies, after killing any pups that may be on them, they 

 will be cleaned and used, while by giving the enfeebled colony 

 brood, and if necessary a good queen, if it has any vigor 

 remaining it will soon be rejoicing in strength and prosperity. 

 We have already spoken of caution as to comb honey and 

 frames of comb (page 380), and so need not speak further of 

 them. 



THE WBE BEB-MOTH. 



In 1887 another smaller moth attacked comb in New York 

 and Michigan. Mr. W. J. Ellison, of South Carolina, wrote 

 me that this insect does much harm in his State. It is Ephestia 



Fig. 267. 



Wee Bee-Moth. — Original. Wing. — Original. 



interpunctella. Hub., and belongs to the same family of moths, 

 Pyralidae, or snout-moths, that contains the old bee-moth. I 

 shall call this (Fig. 267) the Wee bee-moth. The moths lay 

 eggs in July and August, upon the comb. The larvae feed in 

 August, September and October upon the pollen, and do mis- 

 chief by spreading a thin layer of silk over the combs. Mr. 

 Ellison says the web on the comb honey is no small injury. 

 Very likely there is an early summer brood. 



The only suggestion I can offer at present is that the 

 combs shall not be exposed. Fumigation, of course, either 



