19 



scrapings burned ; then brush them with a solution of carbolic acid — 

 1 oz. of acid (Calvert's No. 5) to 4 quarts of water well mixed — 

 taking care the solution does not come in contact with the hands. 

 Let the hives remain exposed to the air for several days before using 

 them. 



lY. THE LARGE BEE OE WAX MOTH {Galleria mellonella, 



Linn.). 



This moth, so far as I am aware, has only quite recently made 

 its appearance in New Zealand, brought here probably frorti Aus- 

 tralia, where it is said to have been introduced from Europe about 

 the year 1880. The larvae or grubs of the moth were first sent to 

 me by Messrs. H. Betts and Son, of Okaiawa, near Mount Egmont, 

 iti the early part of 1904, and I had no difficulty in recognising them 

 as the larvae of the large moth, having previously seen similar grubs 

 in boxes with bees imported from Europe. 



During my recent visit to the Okaiawa district I discovered the 

 moth and grubs in three difEerent apiaries a considerable distance 

 apart from each other, so that it may be taken for granted the 

 moth has now established itself in this colony. I have not yet seen 

 it in any other district. In each of the hives where I found the 

 moth the colony was very weak — a long way below the normal 

 strength — which would, no doubt, account for its getting a footing ; 

 in no case did I find it in colonies of normal strength. A favourite 

 liaunt of the grub is on the top of the frames under the mat, or 

 where there are ttvo mats it will get in between them. They are to 

 be found there chiefly in the daytime, where they apparently hide 

 from the bees, and attack the combs at night; but when the colony 

 becomes very weak the grubs show no such fear and attack the 

 combs at all times. 



It is the larvae or grubs of the moth which prove so destructive 

 to the combs, burrowing through them under the protection of 

 strong silken galleries which they spin around themselves secure 

 from the bees as they advance in their work of destruction. 

 Eventually the combs are completely destroyed, and fall, a mass of 

 web and cocoons, to the bottom of the hive (see Plate V.). 



Its Habits and Natural History. 



The moth itself, which is usually to be seen during warm summer 



evenings flitting about the hives, watching for an opportunity to lay 



its eggs within or near the entrances, can readily discover weak 



colonies, when it does not hesitate to enter the hives, and thus the 



