1902 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER 



79 



mainly done after night, when both 

 bees and their owner are resting. 



The moth is about three-fourths of 

 an inch long, and measures one and 

 one-fourth inches from tip to tip. The 

 forewings of the male are deeply notch- 

 ed at the end; those of the female slight- 

 ly notched. The eggs are small, and 

 it is generally stated that two broods 

 are raised in a year. Prof. Cook, how- 

 ever, states that he has found them in 

 every month from May to September, 

 and has proved by personal investiga- 

 tion that the complete cycle of life from 

 egg to imago may be perfected in six 

 weeks or less. Hence he draws the in- 

 ference that under favorable conditions 



weather a full-fledged moth emerges, 

 and life history again repeats itself. 



Honey that has been removed from 

 the hive is never safe from them in 

 warm weather, unless packed in a tight 

 box to which they cannot gain access. 

 Many writers claim that for cleaning 

 combs infested the quickest and neat- 

 est way is to place them one at a time 

 in the center of a strong hive of Ital- 

 ians. The bees will expeditiously re- 

 move all intruders and their debris. 



A standard remedy is burning sul- 

 phur or brimstone, first placing in an 

 empty hive or box all combs in which 

 the wax worm is found. This will de- 

 stroy the larvae, but not the eggs. 



BROOD COMB RAVAGED BY LARVAL MOTH. 



three broods may be produced annual- 

 ly. The moth may deposit the eggs 

 near the entrance and the newly 

 hatched larva be left to crawl inside, 

 or she may slip in at dusk and perfect 

 her work. 



As the larvae hatch they proceed to 

 spin a silken gallery within which they 

 may be securely fortified. This is en- 

 larged as the inmate, gaining in size 

 every day, has increased needs; and 

 when ready to pupate it is about an inch 

 long. It spins once more, this time a 

 cocoon which is placed on the side of 

 the frame, in some crevice of the hive 

 or in the comb. When numerous, these 

 cocoons may appear in clusters on the 

 comb. In two weeks or less in warm 



Hence the process must be repeated. 

 Besides, while the smaller worms are 

 easily killed, to destroy the full grown 

 ones requires severe fumigation; and 

 this will very likely discolor the comb, 

 thus greatly injuring the quality of sec- 

 tion honey. 



Carbon bisulphide has been found 

 even more effectual since it destroys 

 eggs as well as larvae, and this with- 

 out injuring either the honey or the 

 comb. Extreme caution, however, is 

 necessary in its use as it is highly in- 

 flammable; under no circumstances 

 should a light be brought into a room 

 containing the fumes. These fumes are 

 also dangerous to man when inhaled in 

 a concentrated form. But by closing 



