THE WAX MOTH. 303 



appetite. The love of the tomtit for the bees is in a great 

 degree confirmed by Lapoutre, who says, that he saw under 

 a tree, in which there was a tomtit's nest, a surprising 

 quantity of the scaly parts of bees, which these birds had 

 dropped from their nests. A little shot and powder is the 

 surest remedy for these malpractices of the tomtit family, 

 and we never hesitate to apply them, whenever an opportunity 

 presents itself. 



But of all the enemies of the bees, the wax moth is the 

 most formidable. In those places where the moth abounds 

 the hives should be frequently visited, and especially the 

 weak ones, in order to ascertain if the moth has begun 

 its ravages. The destruction of a few larva; at the period 

 of their maturity will prevent the multiplication of some 

 thousands of these insects, which carry with them destruc- 

 tion and desolation through a whole apiary. It is easy to 

 ascertain if the moth has made its lodgment in the hive, 

 by the dejection and lassitude of the bees, and by a cessation 

 from their wonted labours. It is in the tops or coverings 

 of the hives, that these dangerous insects frequently estab- 

 lish themselves, especially if they be made of straw, between 

 the bands of which they deposit their eggs, or spin their 

 cocoons. This examination should be made early in the 

 morning, for the wax moths retire to their recesses when 

 the light appears, and as they do not take to the wing, 

 but run about the exterior of the hive, they are easily de- 

 stroyed. 



In regard to the visitation of the interior, the cottage hive 

 presents itself with all its insuperable obstructions, and 

 therefore we can only describe a few signs by which the 

 existence of the moth in the hive may be ascertained. The 

 hive must be gently lifted up, and the platform carefully 

 examined. If some shreds or fragments of wax be seen, or 

 some yellowish or red grains, which are merely some por- 

 tions of the pollen, which the larvae have extracted from the 

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