The Beemoth or AVaxworm 



13 



to outside influences and enemies. The area of feeding was gradually 

 extended from the point of infestation finally to include the entire comb. 

 If the comb does not furnish sufficient food the larvae begin to feed 

 on the refuse under the comb in which there is considerable wax in 

 small pieces. In this they construct such a large amount of web that 

 they are absolutely protected from enemies. 



In a few cages, balls of fresh cappings, containing normal amounts 

 of honey, were supplied as food for the larvae. The entrance was 

 usually made on the top side of the cappings. A tunnel was made aa 

 in the ease of empty comb, directed toward the center of the ball. This 

 tunnel, however, was not extended to the center but was extended 

 around the mass, keeping a uniform distance from the surface. The 

 refuse was thrown back and out of the tunnel as was done when feeding 

 on empty comb. When the tunnel was extended around to a point just 

 above the point of contact with the bottom of the cage, an exit was 

 made. Here much refuse was accumulated and the larvae seemed to 

 prefer to eat here. The growth of larvae feedin,g on cappings was 

 slower than when feeding on comb and there was a greater variation in 

 the growth. 



'\ATien feeding on stored combs of honey, the worms apparently fed 

 only on the comb, which allowed the honey to drip. The amount of 

 chewed wax was not so great as when feeding on empty comb, nor were 

 there so many webs visible. 



LENGTH OF PEEIOD 



There was a great variation in the length of the larval period even 

 within the brood when food and climatic conditions were apparently 

 the same in all cages. Throughout the observations made on the feed- 

 ing habits this fact was readily noticeable. In some cages this vari- 

 ation in the size of the larvae was apparent as early as seven days after 

 hatching. This variation is much more apparent during the later part 

 of the period, and during the colder portion of this year the variation 

 is still more pronounced. As indicated above, the food has an effect 

 upon the length of this period, it being greater when cappings were 

 supplied than when empty comb was used. 



Table 5.— Length of larval period, spring 1912. 



These larvae were kept in the laboratory at normal temperature with 



