The Beemoth or Waxworm 



19 



extending from the outer margin inward toward the base; on the outer 

 and rear margins is a thick fringe of hairs on which is a dark line 

 running parallel with the border of the wing. The body is brown, the 

 shade varying with a covering of scales. These scales rub oS easily and 

 are not always present on the older moths. The male is slightly smaller 

 than the female. A difference between the sexes is noticed in the fore- 

 wing, which in the ease of the male is deeply scalloped on the outer mar- 

 gin. This scallop carrier a heavy fringe of hairs, almost black in color. 

 Another difference is in the mouth parts, the palpi of the male being 

 rudimentary. 



EMERGENCE 



The moths emerge during the first part of the evening. In the cages 

 emergence started just before sundown (6:30 p. m.) and no moths 

 emerged after 9 p. m. They at once sought some protected place in 

 which to expand their wings and dry, and by the next morning they. 

 were able to fly. 



The first and lasit emerging individuals of the brood are smaller in 

 size than the average, regardless of sex. The quantity of the food has 

 a great deal to do with the size of the adults. The last larvae of the 

 brood are always undersized, but are almost always able to pupate and 

 reach maturity. 



DURATION OF LIFE 



In no instance were the moths of either sex seen to feed during their 

 existence. In many cages fresh cappings were supplied for oviposition 

 but the honey in those cappings did not serve as food for the moths. 

 jSTo other attempts were made to supply food to the moths. The dura- 

 tion of the life of the adults varies greatly, apparently depending upon 

 several conditions, retarded fertilization and oviposition, brood and tem- 

 perature conditions. The males usually live longer than the females, 

 as shown in table 16. The average length of the life of a female was 

 twelve days and the average length of the life of the male was twenty- 

 one days. The average time that the male lived longer than the female 

 was nine days. 



Table 16. — Length of adult life. 



PROPORTION OF SEX 



On October 25, 1912, 182 larvae were placed in separate vials to de- 

 termine sex and rate of emergence. The results are shown in table 17. 



