ENEMIES OE BEES. 247 



If they are hatched in the hive, they leave it, to attend to 

 the business of impregnation. In the moth slate, they do 

 not attack the hives, to plunder them of food, although having 

 a " sweet tooth " in their head, they are easily attracted by 

 the odor of liquid sweets. The male, having no special 

 business in the hive, usually keeps himself at a safe distance 

 from the bees ; but the female, impelled by an irresistible 

 instinct, seeks admission, that she may deposit her eggs 

 where her offspring can gain the readiest access to their 

 natural food. She carefully explores the cracks and crevices 

 about the bottom-board, and lays her eggs among the parings 

 of the combs, and other refuse matter which have fallen from 

 the hive. If she enters a feeble or discouraged slock, where 

 she can act her own pleasure, she will lay her eggs among 

 the combs. In a hive where she is too closely watched to 

 effect this, she will insert them in the corner.s, into the soft 

 propolis, or in any place where there are small pieces of wax 

 and bee-bread, which having fallen upon the bottom-board, 

 furnish a temporary place of concealment for her progeny, 

 and also the requisite nourishment, until they have strength 

 and enterprise enough to reach the main combs of the hive, 

 and fortify themselves there. " As soon as hatched,* the 

 worm encloses Itself in a case of white silk, which it spins 

 around its body ; at first it is like a mere thread, but gradu- 

 ally increases in size, and during its growth, feeds upon the 

 cells around it, for which purpose it has only to put forth its 

 head, and find its wants supplied. It devours its food with 

 great avidity, and consequently increases so much in bulk, 

 that its gallery soon becomes too short and narrow, and the 

 creature is obliged to thrust itself forward and lengthen the 

 gallery, as well to obtain more room as to procure an addi- 



* Sevan. 



