BEE MOTH. Ill 



steal in and deposit their eggs on the combs, which 

 they accomplish* unless prevented by the vigilant 

 sentinels that are usually on guard. 



They are not often baffled in their purpose ; and 

 having effected an entrance, they at once make their 

 way to the upper portion of the hive, where they 

 encounter less bees than at or near the mouth. Hav- 

 ing thus gained an entrance, they deposit their eggs 

 on the brood comb. Great sagacity is displayed in 

 thus depositing their eggs where they will be hatched 

 by the heat naturally ascending from the bees below, 

 and also remaining above to obtain ample food with- 

 out molestation during the first stage of their exist- 

 ence. 



Should they fail to effect an entrance, they seek to 

 deposit their eggs in cracks or at the entrance of the 

 hive, where they will be likely to come in contact 

 with, adhere to, and be borne into the hive by the 

 pollen and propolis with which the entering bees are 

 loaded. By whatever means they are carried to the 

 center of the hive, they become attached to the 

 comb, where they soon hatch out and burrow under 

 the cappings of the sealed brood. They at once 

 commence to form galleries at first so small as 

 scarcely to be perceptible ; in fact, their presence is 

 only detected by a fine, thread-like filament, with 

 numerous small particles of wax adhering. But as 

 they gain in size, they extend and enlarge their gal- 

 lery, till it presents the appearance as shown in plate 



* As soon as the eggs are deposited, the moth dies. 



