20 Texas .AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 
a dark ring inside of the shell. The perfectly formed larva can be dis- 
tinctly seen for at least twelve hours before the shell bursts. During this 
time the larva is engaged in cutting an opening in the shell and its final 
emergence from the egg is made through a ragged hole in the top. After 
the larva is out of the shell it appears white and clear. 
The egg stage of the first brood averages twelve days and of the second 
only ten days. 
THE LARVA, 
The larve (“worms”) when first hatched are white in color and very 
small, only one-eighth of an inch (3 mm.) in length. After emerging 
from the shell they are quiet for a short time while they are apparently 
drying and stretching in preparation for their work of destruction. Soon 
they become very active, but only upon close examination can they be 
seen hurrying over the comb in their attempt to gain an entrance before 
being detected by the bees. During this short period of one or two hours 
they are at the mercy of their enemies. Within a short time after hatch- 
ing the first meal is taken and this consists of scales of wax which they 
loosen from the comb in their attempts to gain an entrance. The en- 
trance is made at the top of the cell-wall between the cells. 
The entrance is extended by the larva into tunnels directed toward the 
bottom of the cells. Their presence is now noticeable, for in their work 
the bits of chewed wax not used for food are pushed back of them and 
out of the tunnel, making the surface of the comb appear rough and 
poorly kept. This tunnel affords protection and food for the larve and 
also leads to their desired feeding place, the center of the comb. Usually 
four days are consumed in reaching this point. 
When the center of the comb is reached, the larve leave their tunnels 
and wander over the bottom of the cells or, in the case of comb containing 
honey, tunnel along the midrib from cell to cell. If disturbed, they seek 
their tunnels for protection. At first only small holes are eaten through 
the bottoms of the cells, thus affording a passageway from cell to cell 
through the center of the comb, so that, if disturbed, they can pass into 
another cell or through several cells in their attempt to escape. In two 
or three days these openings are enlarged and outlined by threads of silk 
spun by the larve in their travels from.cell to cell. These threads soon 
become numerous enough to form a silken gallery, which gives almost 
complete protection from the bees or other enemies. From this central 
gallery the feeding is extended out along the bottoms of the cells or the 
middle of the comb. The silk is spun wherever the larve go, so that 
very soon the bottoms of the cells are replaced by a layer of silk thread 
covered with excrement of the larve and particles of chewed wax. This 
condition is shown in Plate IV. 
After the midrib has been eaten, the larve start on the walls of the 
cells, the ones farthest away from the light being the first that are de- 
stroyed. As this feeding continues out along the cell-walls, the threads 
of silk are extended to cover the new feeding ground, and not only serve 
to protect the larvee, but also act as a scaffold to support the damaged 
‘ cells. Soon the center of the comb appears as a mass of tangled refuse 
and discarded wax. This condition is also shown at Plate IV. The feed- 
ing continues until the walls are entirely eaten, but the top of the cells is 
