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tough cocoon as they travel. These larvae feed chiefly on pollen, pupal 

 cases and other impurities in the comb. It is thought that very little, if 

 any, wax is digested. When confined to wax and honey as in comb honey 

 infestations, the larvae are unable to develop into the adult stage. Adult 

 moths do no damage to comb. 



Combs left exposed act as breeding places for this troublesome pest, 

 and the beekeepers should be careful to keep all combs out of reach of the 

 moth. 



When weak colonies are attacked the beekeeper should remove as 

 many of the bee moth larvae as possible as well as the webbing and 

 cocoons. The colony should then be united with a strong colony. Italian 

 bees are more resistant than black bees. Strong colonies are rarely 

 infested. Weak or dead colonies in box hives form excellent breeding 

 grounds for moths. 



Various disinfectants can be recommended for the control of wax 

 moth in stored combs : 



Sulphur. The amount recommended is 3 pounds per 1000 cu. ft. of 

 storage space, burned for 24 hours in a room made as air-tight as 

 possible. As the sulphur dioxide fumes given off do not destroy the eggs 

 it is necessary to fumigate again two to three weeks later. 



Its use incurs considerable fire hazard. Fire Insurance under the 

 Ontario Beekeepers' Association is not available to those who disinfect 

 with sulphur. It is most conveniently used in the form of flowers of 

 sulphur. To use, obtain a large flat pan and place some water in it. 

 Stand the pan in which the sulphur is to burn inside this on two bricks. 

 Place live coals in this pan and put the flowers of sulphur on top. Supers 

 are criss-crossed in piles. 



Carbon bisulphide. Is a yellowish oily liquid which gives off a very 

 disagreeable odour. It may be used quite effectively, although the gas 

 does not kill the eggs, and as is the case with sulphur it is necessary to 

 give a second treatment two to three weeks later. The method used is to 

 place two tablespoonfuls or one ounce of the liquid in a small dish and 

 place this on top of a stack of five supers. For best results, the cracks 

 between the supers should be closed by means of gum paper, or they may 

 be effectively sealed by moistening strips of newspaper and sticking them 

 around the supers. The stack should remain sealed at least 12 hours. 

 At low temperatures this evaporation is very slow, so it is necessary to 

 have the room fairly warm. 



Every precaution should be taken when using this disinfectant, as 

 the gas given off is highly inflammable. When a dish of carbon bisulphide 

 is used on the top super it is necessary to close off the pile by means of 

 an empty super and lid. 



Cyanogas. Is a commercial cyanide preparation which is extremely 

 poisonous to humans and animals. Great care should be taken when 

 using it. The gas given off is almost the same weight as air. Cracks in 

 the pile of supers should be closed up and about one tablespoonful of the 

 powder may be placed on a piece of paper somewhere in a pile of five 



