The Wee Bee Moth. 413 



brood, and if necessary a good queen, if it has any vigor 

 remaining it will soon be rejoicing in strength and pros- 

 perity. 



We have already spoken of caution as to comb honey 

 and frames of comb, and so need not speak further of them. 



THE WEE BEE MOTH. 



In 1887 another smaller moth attacked comb in New 

 York and Michigan. Mr. W.J. Ellison of South Carolina 

 writes me that this insect does much harm in his State. It 

 is Ephestia interpunctella, Hiib., and belongs to the same 

 family of moths, Pyralidffl, or snout mollis that contains 

 the old bee moth. I shall call this (Fig. 194) the Wee 



Fig. 194. 



Wte Bee Moth. 



bee moth. The moths lay eggs in July and August, upon 

 the comb. The larva feed in August, September and 

 October upon the pollen, and do mischief by spreading 

 their thin layer of silk over the combs. Mr. Ellison says 

 the web on the comb honey is no small injury. Very 

 likely there is an early summer brood. 



REMEDIES. 



The onl}' suggestion I can offer at present is that the 

 combs shall not be exposed. Fumigation, of course, will 

 destroy these also, and might be desirable in case comb 

 honey is injured. 



