'Jill TIIK rilAUTlCAL BEE GUIDE. 



from fourteen to twenty days, according to the temperature. 

 They spin around their bodies white, silken cases, and further 

 fortify themselves with a coat of wax and their own excrement. 

 They expose only their heads and necks, and these are so 

 strongly helmeted with scales as to be impenetrable to stings. 

 They perforate the combs, and cover them with webs, cocoons, 

 and excrements, speedily working ruin in the hive, and emerg- 

 ing as perfect winged moths. Bees seem to realise fully the 

 danger of admitting the wax moth ; and, unless the colony is 

 weak or quecnless, the moth will stand but a poor chance of 

 getting into the hive. But, bee-keepers often introduce the 

 mischief to their colonies ; for, combs out of use when left 

 lying about, attract the moths, and become fruitful sources of 

 danger when given to the stocks. When the danger threatens, 

 iveak colonies, if not united to strong colonies, should be con- 

 fined to the combs which they can cover and defend ; for, if 

 the outer combs be left vacant, the moth, on entering, will be 

 able to work her mischief unhindered. The larvje of wax moth 

 should be destroyed when found ; and comb infested by this 

 enemy should be removed and the wax extracted. Combs that 

 are not beyond saving may be placed in hii'e bodies, or super 

 boxes, piled up on an empty box in which so.me ounces of 

 sulphur have been placed and kindled. The receptacles being 

 properly covered, the sulphur fumes will ascend and will kill 

 the moths and grubs. This treatment should be renewed 

 after a few weeks. 



Fig'. 113. 

 WATER EOUNTAIN. 



