ENEMIES OF BEES. 245 



If they are hatched in the hive, they leave it, in or- 

 der to attend to the business of impregnation. In the 

 moth stale, they do not actually attack the hives, to plunder 

 them of food, although they have a " sweet tooth" in their 

 head, and are easily attracted by the odor of liquid sweets. 

 The male, having no special business in the hive, usually 

 keeps himself at a safe distance from the bees : but the 

 female, impelled by an irresistible instinct, seeks admission, ■ 

 in order to deposit her eggs where -her offspring may gain 

 the readiest access to their natural food. She carefully ex- 

 plores all the cracks and crevices about the bottom-board, 

 and if she finds a suitable place under them, lays her eggs 

 among the parings of the combs, and other refuse matter 

 which has fallen from the hive. If she enters a feeble or 

 discouraged stock, where she can act her own pleasure, she 

 will lay her eggs among the combs. In a hive where 

 she is too closely watched to effect this, she will insert them 

 in the corners, into the soft propolis, or in any place where 

 there are small pieces of wax and bee-bread, which have 

 fallen upon the bottom-board, and which will furnish a tem- 

 porary place of concealment for her progeny, and also the 

 requisite nourishment, until they have strength and enter- 

 prise enough to reach the main combs of the hive, and for- 

 tify themselves there. " As soon as hatched,* the worm 

 encloses itself in a case of white silk, which it spins around 

 its body ; at first it is like a mere thread, but gradually in- 

 creases in size, and during its growth, feeds upon the cells 

 around it, for which purpose it has only to put forth its head, 

 and find its wants supplied. It devours its food with great 

 avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, that its 

 gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the crea- 

 ture is obliged to thrust itself forward and lengthen the gal- 



* Bevan. 

 21* 



