Bee-l^repinq in Victoriri. 



93 



sufficiently tliiek to prevent splitting or warping, and the boxes should 

 fit closely to the bottom board. If the timber is cracked it will enable 

 the moths to enter, and deposit their eggs near the honeycomb. 



Empty, or partly filled, combs, removed from the hives at the end 

 of the season, should be at once put beyond the reach of the wax moth. 

 If left standing about, even for a few hours, the odour of the combs 

 attracts the female moths, who deposit their eggs on the combs. The 

 eggs hatch in the following Spring to the surprise of the beekeeper, 

 who carefully secured his combs against moths, and probably only left 

 them about for a little time. The cocoons are attacked by a small 

 species of parasitic wasp which helps to keep them in check. 



It is assumed by many beekeepers that wax moths do some good by 

 destroying the combs of bees in trees or neglected hives which had 

 succumbed to foul-brood. Experiments made by Dr. E. F. Phillips, of 

 the United States of America Department of Agriculture, have proved, 

 however, that the spores of foul-brood still remain capable of producing 

 disease after the combs have been totally destroyed by wax moths, and 

 the only point in favour of these moths from the beekeeper's point of 

 view is therefore disproved. 



Dragon Flies. 



Of other insects which prey upon bees the most formidable is the 

 Dragon Fly. This insect, generally called liorse-stinger, is very numerous 

 in some districts. It cruises about over the hives and pounces upon bee 

 after bee, and as it merely draws the juice from the body of the bee 

 and then drops it, a single dragon fly destroys a good many bees during 

 a day. As this insect is very swift and alert, it is difficult to combat. 

 Something like a tennis racket, but covered with a closer mesh, is the 

 most eifective weapon to strike them down, and while it would not be 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 

 Bee Moths. 



"The Larger Bee Moth." (GaUeria mellonella, Linn.) 

 "The Lesser Bee Moth." (Achrceca grisella, Fab.) 



Fin-. I. Honeycomb showing appearance when attacked. Natural size. 



From Nature. 

 Cocoons of GaUeria mellonella. Natural size. From Nature. 

 Perfect Insect. Male. Magnified. From Nature. 

 Perfect Insect. Female. Natural size. From Nature. 

 Larva; of GaUeria mellonella. Natural size. From Nature. 

 Pupa of GaJleria mellonella. Enlarged. From Nature. 

 Perfect Insect of Achrwca grisella. Natural size. From 



Nature. 

 Perfect Insect of Achrceca grisella. Magnified. From Nature. 

 Pupa of GaUeria mellonella. Natural size. From Nature. 

 Cocoons of GaUeria mellonella. Natural size. From Natiu-e. 



