The Beemoth or Waxworm 



Table 21. — Age of female. 



2-i 



Emerged. 



Mar. 8, 

 Mar. 6, 

 Au^. 29. 

 Aug. 26, 

 AuR. 31, 

 AuR. 29, 

 Aug. 29, 

 Aug. 2S, 

 AuR. 30, 

 Auo. 28, 

 Sept 7, 

 Sept. 4, 

 Sept. 3, 

 Sept. 3, 

 Nov. 23, 

 Nov. 26, 

 Nov. 24, 

 Dec. 2, 

 Dec. 2, 

 Dec. 2, 

 Nov. 27, 

 Nov. 25, 

 Nov. 22, 

 Dec. 3, 

 Nov. 30, 

 Nov. 30, 

 Dec. 7, 

 Dec. 10, 

 Dec. 9. 



First eggs. 



Age. 



6 days 

 15 days 



3 days 



7 days 

 days 

 days 

 days 

 days 

 days 

 days 

 days 



3 days 



7 days 



8 days 

 8 days 

 8 days 

 8 days 



10 days 

 3 days 



3 days 



8 days 

 10 days 

 13 days 



4 days 

 7 days 



9 days 

 4 days 



4 days 



5 days 



PROCESS OF OVIPOSITION 



While depositing eggs the female seems mindful only of the task 

 she is performing and is not easily disturbed." Some of the females 

 appear nervous while ovipositing but work steadily. In the cages rela- 

 tively small pieces of comb were supplied for oviposition. The female 

 usually went over the top and down the sides of the comb, repeating 

 this course continuously. In going over the top of the comb the ovi- 

 positor is extended and appears to be dragged along. Apparently the 

 interior of every cell was inspected by the ovipositor but never were 

 any eggs deposited in these empty cells. Prom the top of the comb 

 the female went to the sides, where suitable places for oviposition were 

 readily found. A very thorough inspection was made of the crevice 

 before the eggs were deposited, sometimes a situation would not be 

 accepted one time but an egg would later be placed there. When a 

 suitable location was found, the moth exerted a tremendous force back- 

 ward, such as to bend the abdomen, perhaps to force the ovipositor into 

 the crevice as far as possible. Then there was a moment of quiet when 

 the body was rigid, then a quick jerk and the female was on her journey 

 again. During the inspection work the antennae were vibrating con- 

 tinuously but they were motionless while the egg was passing down the 

 oviduct. 



The eggs are always securely fastened to whatever object they are 

 laid upon. The eggs are always laid in cavities. In the cage experi- 

 ments these were on the side of the comb, often where the walls of cells 

 had been turned in. Only one egg is deposited at a time, although in 



