Enemies of Bees — Moths. J15 



they will often extrude tlieir eggs; in fact, they have been 

 known to do this even after the head and tliorax were severed 

 from the abdomen, and, still more strange, while the latter was 

 being disstcted. 



It is generally stated that these are two-brooded, the first 

 moths occurring in May, the second in August. Yet, as I 

 have secu these moths in every month from May to Septem- 

 ber, and as 1 have proved by actual observation that they may 

 pass from egg to moth in less than six weeks, I think under 

 favorable conditions there may be even three broods a year. 

 It is true that the varied conditions of temjoerature — as the 

 moth larvte may grow in a deserted hive, in one with few bees, 

 or one cro^.ded with bee life — will have much to do with the 

 rapidity of development. Circumstances may so retard growth 

 and development that there may not be more than two, and 

 possibly, in extreme cases, not more than one brood in a season. 



It IS stated by Mr. Quinby that a freezing temperature will 

 kill these insects in all stages, while Mr. Betsinger thinks that 

 a deserted hive is safe ; neither of which assertions is correct. 

 I have seen hives whose bees were killed by the severe winter, 

 crowded with moth pupae or chrysalids the succeedsing summer. 

 I have subjected both larvse and pupfe to the freezing temper- 

 ature without injuring them. I believe, in very mild winters, 

 the moth and the chrj^salids might be so protected as to escape 

 unharmed, even outside the hive. It is probable, too, that 

 the insects may pass the winter in any one of the various 

 stages. 



HISTOEY. 



These moths were known to writers of antiquity, as even 

 Aristotle tells of their injuries. They are wholly of oriental 

 origin, and are otten referred to by European writers as a ter- 

 rible pest. The late Dr. Kirtland, the able scientist, and first 

 President of our American Bee Convention, once said in a let- 

 ter to Mr. Langstroth that the moth was first introduced into 

 America in 1805, though bees had been introduced long before. 

 They first seemed to be very destructive. It is quite probable, 

 as has been suggested, that the bees had to learn to fear and repel 

 them; for, unquestionably, bees do grow in wisdom. In fact, 

 may not the whole of instinct be inherited knowledge, which 

 once had to be acuuired by tbo animal? Surelv bees and other 



