EN^EMIES OF BEES. 245 



life and prosperity, must be ever on the " watch " against its 

 fatal intrusions. 



Only some liny eggs are deposited by the moth, giving 

 birth to a very delicate, innocent-looking worm ; but let 

 these apparently insignificant creatures once get the upper 

 hand, and all the fragrance of the honied dome, is soon 

 corrupted by their abominable stench ; every thing beautiful 

 and useful, is ruthlessly destroyed ; the hum of happy 

 industry is stilled, and at last, nothing is left in the des- 

 ecrated hive, but a set of ravenous, half famished worms, 

 knotting and writhing around each other, in most loathsome 

 convolutions. 



Wax is the proper food of the larvise of the bee-moth ; 

 and upon this seemingly indigestible substance, they thrive 

 and fatten. When obliged to steal their living, as best they 

 can, among a powerful stock of bees, they are exposed, 

 during their growth, to many perils, and seldom fare well 

 enough to reach their natural size ; but when rioting at 

 pleasure, among the full combs of a feeble and discouraged 

 population, they often attain a size and corpulence truly 

 astonishing. If the bee-keeper wishes to see their innate 

 capabilities fully developed, let him rear a number for him- 

 self, among some old combs, and if prizes were oflered for 

 fat and full grown worms, he might easily obtain one. In 

 the course of a few weeks, the larva, like that of the silk 

 worm, stops eating, and begins to think of a suitable place 

 for encasing itself in its silky shroud. In hives where they 

 reign unmolested, this is a work of but little difficulty; al- 

 most any place will answer their purpose, and they often 

 pile their cocoons, one on another, or join them in long rows 

 together ; but in hives strongly guarded by healthy bees, 

 this is a matter not very easily accomplished ; and many a 

 worm while ij is cautiously prying about, to find a snug 

 21* . 



