18 



Texas AGKicuLTUR-iL Experiment Station 



Table 14. — Duration of pupal stage, 1912. 



These pupae were in cages in the laboratory with normal artificial 

 heat. The average length of the pupal period was 18.9 days. 



Tabic 15. — Duration or pupal stage, 1912. 



These pupae were kept under the same conditions as those recorded 

 in table 14. From this it is obvious that a portion of the pupae have 

 a prolonged period. For those recorded in table 15 the average length 

 of the period was 35.5 days. 



ADULTS 



DESCRIPTION 



Although very familiar to many beekeepers, the beemoth is yet not 

 definitely known to many who should be acquainted with it in order 

 that they might more readily combat it. Having been a pest for such 

 a long time, it is remarkable that more beekeepers are not acquainted 

 with this pest of the apiary. Perhaps the reason that these moths are 

 not more commonly known is due to the fact that they are seldom to 

 be seen on the wing, except at dusk, unless frightened from their hiding 

 places. 



The adult beemoth is about five-eighths of an inch (fifteen milli- 

 meters) in length, with a wing expanse of about one and one-quarter 

 inches (thirty to thirty-two millimeters). The moth with its wings 

 folded appears ashy gray in color but the back third of each front wing 

 is bronze colored. This wing is thickly covered with fine scales which 

 Tub off easily when the moth is touched. On the outer and rear mar- 

 gins of the forewing is a scanty row of short hairs. The hind wings 

 are uniform in color, usually gray, with traces of a few black lines 



