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AUSTRALASIAN 



through the combs as they advance, often detaching them and 

 and causing them to fall together. These tubes will, in time, 

 extend through the whole of the combs, killing the larvaB of 

 the bees, and ultimately destroy the whole colony. 





Fig. 189.— SILKEN TUBE IK COMB. 



Cook says : 



" In three or four weeks the larvae are full grown (Fig. 130) 



They now spin their cocoons, either in some crevice about the hive, or, 

 if very numerous, singly (a, Fig. 131), or in clusters (b, Fig. 131), or on 



Fig. 130.— LABV.E OF BEE-MOTH 



the comb, or even in the drone cells (c, Fig. 131), in which they become 

 pupse ; and in two weeks— even less sometimes — during the extreme 

 heat of summer, the moths again appear. In winter they may remain 

 as pupse for months." 



And Bevan remarks : 



" Wax moths are remarkably active in their movements. 'They 

 are,' says Reaumur, ' the most nimble-footed creatures I know.' And 

 if the approach to the apiary be observed on a moonlight evening, the 

 moths will be found flying or running round the hives, watching an 

 opportunity to enter; whilst the bees that have to guard the entrances 

 against their intrusion will be seen acting as vigilant sentinels, per- 

 forming continual rounds near this important post, extending their 



