128 NATURAL ENEMIES 



living things, and it is characteristic of life dn 

 general that the most formidable ones are the 

 most insignificant in appearance. 



Scattered throughout the preceding pages are 

 references to birds, toads, and similar enemies. 

 These are only, as it were, casual ones, catching 

 a stray bee or so here and there. But there are 

 others who make it their special business in life to 

 attack bees. 



The most formidable amongst these enemies 

 are the Wax Moths. Fragile, feathery creatures 

 though these are, they frequently cause the com- 

 plete ruin of a colony of bees, when they are per- 

 mitted to work their destructive will. 



There are several kinds, but the most abundant 

 is the Galleria melonella, an insect which may be 

 found more or less in all hives during the greater 

 part of the summer. 



This moth is a sober-coloured creature, the 

 prevailing shade being a yellowish grey. It is 

 about an inch and a quarter across the wings, the 

 female being somewhat larger than the male and 

 usually darker in colour. 



If the entrances of the hives are watched in the 

 evening, after the bees have all retired indoors for 

 the night, the female moth may be seen flitting 

 round the entrance, and with much guile slipping 

 inside unnoticed. She lays her eggs in the comb 

 if she can find one unoccupied by bees, but if not, 

 will be content to deposit them among the refuse 



