■8 Texas Ageicultural Espeeiment Station 



apiaries throughout the State this loss is not uncommon, while in the 

 smaller apiaries and in boxhive apiaries the loss is much greater, as was 

 indicated by the reports referred to above. The census of 1910 shows 

 approximately 295,000 colonies of bees in the State, and it is generally 

 conceded that these figures are below the actual number. Assuming 

 that five per cent, is the average annual loss of colonies due to the 

 waxworm, including the large losses in the poorly kept apiaries, it is 

 seen that the annual loss amounts to at least 14,000 colonies. At an 

 average valuation of $4.00 per colony, this amounts to $56,000 a year, 

 a very considerable annual tax on the beekeeping industry of the State. 

 There is no way to arrive at the loss of combs and honey. 



HOSTS 



In India, according to T. B. Fletcher, the beemoth attacks wild bees, 

 as well as domesticated. He says, "In India, in districts where bees are 

 not domesticated, it attacks the combs of the wild honey bees to such 

 an extent that the bees often desert their nests in disgust and swarm oflE 

 and found a new one, while it is very rare to find a deserted comb which 

 does not bear traces of the ravages of this pest." This is the only 

 reference to the attacks of the beemoth on wild bees. Observations of 

 the writer have never disclosed the presence of the beemoth in the 

 •domiciles of wild bees. 



In the hives of domesticated bees, the midrib of the comb seems to 

 be the preferred food. The old brood-rearing combs are preferred to 

 the new combs. This is probably due to the taste of the beemoth for 

 the cast skins of the bee larvae. The larvae, however, are never eaten 

 hy the waxworm, although the bee larvae may die in a badly infested 

 comb. This may be due to a lack of nourishment, as the waxworm 

 will devour pollen wherever it is found, stored in cells or as food for 

 the bee larvae. Small quantities of honey are consumed by the wax- 

 worms. Propolis is eaten in small quantities. Although the frames 

 and hive are eaten out for pupation it is doubtful if the wood is a food, 

 but probably it is used slightly in the construction of the cocoon. 



In stored empty combs the waxworm shows a decided preference to 

 the combs in which brood has been reared. Of course, any comb is 

 readily attacked and destroyed. In the case of stored honey, the comb 

 is preferred as food and the honey is only eaten in small quantities. 

 Honey cappings are readily devoured whenever found and often serve 

 as the only food of the waxworm. It has been said that if fed on pure 

 wax the worms will die. The writer observed one instance in which 

 two full sheets of medium brood foundation were riddled by the wax- 

 worm. 



METHODS OE STUDY 



For the purpose of observing the details of oviposition, small pieces 

 of old brood comb were used. For the observations on the larvae larger 

 pieces of old brood comb were used, the small pieces of comb being 



