THE WAX MOTH AND ITS CONTROL 11 
CARBON DISULPHIDE 
Carbon disulphide has been a standard fumigant for wax moths 
and similar insects until recently, and with proper precautions is still 
satisfactory. As commonly sold commercially, it is a more or less 
yellowish, somewhat oily liquid that changes readily at ordinary 
temperatures into an ill-smelling gas. The hquid is about one-fourth 
heavier than water, and the gas is heavier than air. Jt is highly 
inflammable, and the vapor is explosive when mixed with ar in 
certain proportions, and therefore this chemical must not be handled 
around fire of any kind. Preferably it should be used out of doors 
or in a well ventilated or open shed. 
In using carbon disulphide the supers should be sealed in the 
same manner as for paradichlorobenzene. One ounce of liquid is 
sufficient for five supers, and more than this number of supers should 
not be placed in a single stack, since the weight of the gas carries 
it quickly to the bottom of the stack, and the top super may not be 
adequately fumigated. The stack should remain sealed for not less 
than 12 hours. Carbon disulphide is effective against larvae and 
adults but not against eggs; consequently, it may be necessary to 
repeat the treatment after any eggs have had time to hatch. 
FUMIGANTS THAT ARE LESS EFFICIENT FOR WAX MOTH CONTROL 
Other substances may be used for the control of the wax moth in 
stored equipment, but, as explained in the following paragraphs, 
they are not so efficient for this purpose as either paradichloro- 
benzene or carbon disulphide and are therefore not recommended. 
The fumes from burning sulphur effectively control the larvae and 
adults of the wax moth but are ineffective against the eggs. Sulphur 
was one of the earliest of the substances used to control the wax 
moth in stored combs. The early method was to stack the supers 
over a pan of live coals over which was sprinkled powdered sulphur. 
About 2 ounces of powdered sulphur (flowers of sulphur) is suffi- 
cient for a stack of five supers. At least one empty super should 
be placed at the bottom of the stack so that the heat will not melt 
the combs. Present-day practice is to put the sulphur in a dish, 
wet it with denatured or wood alcohol, and ignite it directly. The 
work should be done in a well-ventilated room or out of doors, and 
precautions must be taken against ignition or overheating of the 
combs. 
Calcium cyanide is effective against the larvae, pupae, and adults of 
the wax moth, but cannot be depended on to destroy the eggs. It 
is obtainable either as dust or as fine or coarse crystals. For use 
in fumigating bee equipment the crystals are preferable to the dust. 
In the presence of moisture (such as that found in the air) the 
crystals form a deadly gas, noninflammable and nonexplosive, but 
extremely poisonous to people and animals. Care must be taken 
when using the substance, and the gas must not be breathed. For 
use put one full tablespoonful of crystals on a sheet of paper and 
place the paper on the top of the frames in a super. Quickly place 
the other supers on top, using not more than five supers per stack, 
and tape the joints between supers with gummed paper tape. The 
fumigation should be done out of doors, or in a well-ventilated room. 
