ENEMIES OF BEES, 
235 
the combs, or inserts them in the corners or crevices, 
or among the refuse wax and bee-bread on the bottom- 
board, where her progeny can be concealed and nourished 
till they are able to reach the combs. 
In Plate XX., Fig. 57, Mr. Tidd has faithfully de- 
lineated, and Mr. Smith skillfully engraved, the black 
mass of tangled webs, cocoons, excrements, and perfo- 
rated combs, which may be found in a hive where the 
worms have completed their work of destruction. 
The entrance of the moth into a hive and the ravages 
O 
committed by her progeny, forcibly illustrate the havoc 
which vice often makes when admitted to prey unchecked 
on the precious treasures of the human heart. Only some 
tiny eggs are deposited by the insidious moth, which give 
birth to very innocent-looking worms ; but let them once 
get the control, and the fragrance* of the honied dome is 
soon corrupted, the hum of happy industry stilled, and 
everything useful and beautiful ruthlessly destroyed. 
The honey-bee is not a native of the New World, 
and, when brought here, was called by the Indians the 
consecutively, like those of the queen bee, but are found In the ducts, fhlly and 
perfectly formed, a few days after tho female moth emerges from the cocoon. She 
deposits them, usually, in little clusters on tho combs. If we wish to witness the 
discharge of the eggs, it is only necessary to seize a female moth, two or three days 
old, with finger and thumb, by tho head — she will instantly protrude her ovipo- 
sitor, and the eggs may then be distinctly seen passing along through the semi- 
transparent duct. (Seo Plate XIII., Fig. 46, C.) 
“Last Summer I reared a bee-moth larva in a small box. It spun a cocoon, 
from which issued a female moth. Holding her by the head, I allowed her to 
deposit eggs on a piece of honey-comb. Three weeks afterwards, I examined the 
comb, and found on it some web and two larvae. The eggs were all shrivelled and 
dried up, except a few which were perforated, nnd from which, I supposo, tho 
iarvas emerged. This appears to bo a case of true parthenogenesis in tho bee- 
moth.” — Translated from Dr. Donhoff by S. Wagner. 
As among hundreds of specimens furnished to Mr. Tidd very few males wore 
noticed, I conjectured that tho eggs of these females would hatch without impreg- 
nation, and took measures to have Dr. Joseph Leidy investigate tho subject. It 
seems, however, that in this matter, our German brethren have tho priority. 
* The (dor of the moth and lame is very offensive. 
