THE WAX MOTH AND ITS CONTROL 3 



burrow into the wax almost immediately after hatching. The first 

 burrows are often incomplete and may be mere roughenings of the 

 surface of the wax. After the first day, however, they make small 

 tunnels between the cells and toward the midrib of the comb. 



The growth of the larvae depends chiefly on the quantity and 

 quality of their food and on the temperature. The length of the 

 larval period ranges from 28 days to 4 months and sometimes to 

 nearly 5 months. During this period the larvae grow from about 

 one twenty-fifth of an inch to seven-eighths of an inch in length. 



The food of the larvae consists in part of impurities in the wax, 

 and in obtaining this food the larvae ingest the wax itself. Founda- 

 tion, especially in frames, is seldom attacked, and then usually only 

 by the small larvae. Although larvae can develop on foundation, 



Figl'ee 2. — Eggs of the wax moth laid on a comb. Greatly enlarged. 



the mortality of such larvae is high, and the developmental period 

 of those that survive is relatively long. It is almost certain that 

 some of the damage reported by beekeepers as caused by the lesser 

 wax moth (Achroia grisella (F.)) is the work of such poorly fed 

 larvae of Galleria meUonella. 



The optimum temperature for the development of the larvae is 

 between 85° and 95° F., about that normally found in a beehive 

 during the active season. At 40° to 45° the larvae seem to become 

 dormant, and no feeding or growth takes place. 



The Prepupa 



When full-grown the larva spins a dense, tough, silken cocoon 

 Usually this cocoon is firmly attached to the side of the hive, the 

 frame, or other solid support, but some cocoons are found in the mass 



