314 



Enemies of Bees — Moths. 



long, and show by tlieir plump appearance that they at least can 

 digest comb. They now spin their cocoons, either in some 

 crevice about the hive, or, if very numerous, singly (Fig. 170, 

 a) or in clusters (Fig. 170, b) on the comb, or even in the 

 drone-cells (Fig. 170, c), in Avhich they become pupre, and in 

 two weeks, even less sometimes, during the extreme heat of 

 summer, the moths again appear. In winter they may re- 



FiG. 169. 



ii'.aiu ;is pup:e for months. Tlie motlis or millers — sometimes 

 incorrectly called moth-millers — are of an obscure gray color, 

 !uid thus so mimic old boards that they are very readily 

 pasjHik unobserved by the apiarist. They are about three- 

 fouitiw' of an inch long, and expand (Fig. 171) nearly ono 



flG. 171. 



and one-fourth inches. The females are darker than the 

 male, possess a longer snout, and are usually a little larger. 

 Tlie wings, when the moths are quiet, are flat on the back for 

 a narrow space, then slope very abruptly. They rest by day, 

 yet, when disturbed, will dart forth with great swiftness, so 

 Keuamur styled them "nimble-footed." They are active by 

 night, when they essay to_ enter the hive and deposit their 



one or two hundred ep 



If the females aro held in the hand 



