Natural History of Bee Moth. 409 
the bottom board in case the moth larve are at work. Soon, 
in three or four weeks, the larva are full grown (Fig. 
191). Now the six jointed and the ten prop-legs—making 
sixteen in all, the usual number possessed by caterpillars— 
Fic. 189. Fic. 190. 
are plainly visible. These larva: are about an inch long, 
and show by their plump appearance that ¢hey at least can 
digest comb. However, though these are styled wax-moths 
they must have cither pollen or dead bees to mingle with 
Fic. 191. 
their wax. While it is true that there is a little nitrogenous 
material in wax, there is not enough so that even the wax- 
moth larva could thrive on it alone. They now spin their 
cocoons, either in some crevice about the hive, or, if very 
numerous, singly (Fig. 192, @) or in clusters (Fig. 192, 4) 
