MANAGEMENT OF HONEY. 229 



lested, just as I had seen her pass among the bees on 

 the alighting hoard. From this and other observa- 

 tions, I think there is but little doubt that the moth 

 or miller deposits her eggs directly in the combs at 

 any point in the hive she sees proper, passing in and 

 out at pleasure ; and the only means of defense 

 possessed by the bees, is to destroy the worm very 

 soon after it is hatched and begins to feed upon the 

 comb, and before it has encased itself in a web or 

 cocoon. 



I am aware that the opinion prevails amongst bee- 

 keepers (and it is but an opinion), and is also asserted 

 by most of our authors, that the bees of strong colo- 

 nies prevent the miller from entering the hive, and 

 consequently all the eggs found in the hive were 

 carried there accidentally by the bees. Although I 

 always doubted this, yet in the absence of proof to 

 the contrary, I received it as being possible; but 

 thought it very strange that the bees should be so 

 careless as to carry destruction into their own hive. 

 Consequently, I have observed pretty closely to learn 

 the true state of the case, which has led to the dis- 

 covery as stated. As a further proof, take a comb, or 

 piece of one, from any part of the strongest colony, 

 in July or August, and inclose it so carefully that it 

 is quite impossible for any insect to reach it ; keep it 

 warm, and in a few days it will be found to be pol- 

 luted by worms, just as we find them in honey boxes. 

 Now it requires a great stretch of the imagination 

 to suppose that all the eggs from which these worms 

 are produced are carried by the bees, and deposited 

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