ENEMIES OP BEES. 243 



constantly on the defensive, and ever on the " watch" 

 against its fatal intrusions. 



Only some tiny eggs are deposited by the moth, and 

 they give birth to a very delicate, innocent-looking worm ; 

 but let these apparently insignificant creatures once " get 

 the upper hand," and all the fragrance of the honied dome, 

 is soon corrupted by their abominable stench ; every 

 thing beautiful and useful, is ruthlessly destroyed ; the hum 

 of happy industry is stilled, and at last, nothing is left in the 

 desecrated hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished worms, 

 knotting and writhing around each other, in most loathsome 

 convolutions. 



Wax is the proper aliment of the larvae of the bee-moth : 

 and upon this seemingly indigestible substance, they thrive 

 and fatten. When obliged to steal their living as best they 

 can, among a powerful stock of bees, they are exposed, 

 during their growth, to many perils, and seldom fare well 

 enough to reach their natural size : but if they are rioting 

 at pleasure, among the full combs of a feeble and discour- 

 aged population, they often attain a size and corpulency 

 truly astonishing. If the bee-keeper wishes to see their 

 innate capabilities fully developed, let him rear a lot for 

 himself among some old combs, and if prizes were offered 

 for fat and full grown worms, he might easily obtain one. 

 In the course of a few weeks, the larva like that of the 

 silk-worm, stops eating, and begins to think of a suitable 

 place for encasing itself in its silky shroud. In hives where 

 they reign uncontrolled, this is a work of but little difficulty ; 

 almost any place will answer their purpose, and they often 

 pile their cocoons, one on top of another, or join them in long 

 rows together : but in hives strongly guarded by healthy 

 bees, this is a matter not very easily accomplished ; and 

 many a worm while it is cautiously prying about, to see 



