306 OPINION OF FEBURIER. 



the sides, or in a comb that has been abandoned by the bees. 

 They spin a web or cocoon in which they envelop themselves, 

 and in which they undergo the metamorphosis into moths 

 or phalena;. They then leave the hive to propagate their 

 species, and the female being fecundated by the male, steals 

 in her turn into a hive, deposits her eggs, and thus lays the 

 foundation for those ravages by her progeny, for which her 

 predecessors have distinguished themselves. 



It is generally at the close of April or the beginning of 

 May, that this destructive moth first shows itself. The 

 hives should therefore at that particular period be carefully 

 watched ; for if a single moth obtains an entrance, it will 

 lay a sufficient number of eggs to cause its total ruin. 



If the hive be weak in population, it is inevitably lost, 

 unless the proprietor succeeds in destroying all the larva; 

 of the moths, and if they have made any great progress, 

 there is no other resource for the bees than to drive them 

 into another hive, provided that the season be so favourable, 

 that they can collect a sufficiency of food for their support. 

 It is the opinion of certain French apiarians, that the greater 

 or less elevation of the hive has a particular effect in promo- 

 ting or destroying altogether the inroads of the wax moths. 

 They have, however, advanced that opinion, without stating 

 their grounds for it ; and we cannot possibly divine what 

 influence the lovvness or the height of a hive can have upon 

 the attack of an insect, which by means of its wings can 

 mount or descend at pleasure, and which is sometimes seen 

 even crawling upon the ground. The preference, however, 

 is given to the low position of the hive; and on this subject 

 Feburier thus expresses himself. " If the population of the 

 hive be numerous and the entrance of the hive very low, the 

 bees will stoutly resist the admission of their enemies ; and if 

 some have taken advantage of a moment of neglect to intro- 

 duce themselves into the hive, they attack them the moment 



