610 
MOTH MILLER 
not deposited on dam comb it is very diffi¬ 
cult 'to see, and even then experience is 
necessary to detect all the eggs present. 
The embryonic development of the egg 
lias not been studied, but a few observations 
have been made upon the incubation period. 
During this period the egg gradually changes 
from a white to a yellow color. About four 
days before hatching, the developing larva 
becomes visible as a dark ring inside of the 
shell. The perfectly formed larva can be 
distinctly seen for at least 12 hours before 
the shell bursts. During this time the larva 
is engaged in cutting an opening in the shell 
and its final emergence from the egg is made 
thru a ragged hole in the top. After the 
larva is out of the shell it appears white 
and clear. 
The egg stage of the first brood averages 
twelve days and of the second only ten days. 
THE LARVAE. 
The larvae (“worms”) when first hatched 
are white in color and very small, only one- 
eighth of an inch (3 mm.) in length. After 
emerging from the shell they are quiet for a 
short time while they are apparently drying 
and stretching in preparation for their work 
of destruction. Soon they become very act¬ 
ive, but only upon close examination can 
they be seen hurrying over the comb in 
their attempt to gain an entrance before be¬ 
ing detected by the bees. During this short 
period of one or two hours they are at the 
mercy of their enemies. Within a short 
time after hatching, the first meal is taken, 
and this consists of scales of wax which 
they loosen from the comb in their attempts 
to gain an entrance. The entrance is made 
at the top of the cell-wall between the cells. 
The entrance is extended by the larvae 
into tunnels directed toward the bottom of 
the cells. Their presence is now noticeable, 
for in their work the bits of chewed wax 
not used for food are pushed back of them 
and out of the tunnel, making the surface 
of the comb appear rough and poorly kept. 
This tunnel affords protection and food for 
the larvae and also leads to their desired 
feeding place, the center of the comb. Usu¬ 
ally four days are consumed in reaching 
this point. 
When the center of the comb is reached, 
the larvae leave their tunnels and wander 
over the bottom of the cells or, in the ease 
of a comb containing honey, tunnel along the 
midrib from cell to cell. If disturbed, they 
seek their tunnels for protection. At first 
only small holes are eaten thru the bottoms 
of the cells, thus affording a passageway 
from cell to cell thru the center of the comb, 
so that, if disturbed, they can pass into pas¬ 
sages of silk spun by the larvae in their at¬ 
tempt to escape. In two or three days these 
openings are enlarged and outlined by 
threads of silk spun by the larvae in their 
travels from cell to cell. These threads 
soon become numerous enough to form a 
silken gallery, which gives almost complete 
protection from the bees or other enemies. 
From this central gallery the feeding is ex¬ 
tended out along the bottoms of the cells 
or the middle of the comb. The silk is spun 
wherever the larvae go, so that very soon 
the bottoms of the cells are replaced by 
a layer of silk thread covered with excre¬ 
ment of the larvae and particles of chewed 
wax. This condition is showen in Plate IV. 
After the midrib has been eaten, the lar¬ 
vae start on the walls of the cells, the ones 
furthest away from the light being the 
first that are destroyed. As this feeding 
continues out along the cell-walls, the 
threads of silk are extended to cover the 
new feeding-ground, and not only serve to 
protect the larvae, but also act as a scaffold 
to support the damaged cells. Soon the 
center of the comb appears as a mass of 
tangled refuse and discarded wax. This 
condition is also shown at Plate IV. Th^ 
feeding continues until the walls are en¬ 
tirely eaten, but the top of the cells is never 
eaten, perhaps because this would expose 
them to outside influence and enemies. An 
example of this is shown at Plate IV, lower 
photo. The area of feeding is gradually 
extended from the point of infestation to 
include finally the entire comb. If the comb 
does not furnish sufficient food for the larvae 
that are present, they will begin to feed in 
the refuse under the comb in which there 
is considerable wax in small pieces. In this 
they construct such a large amount of web 
that they are absolutely protected from ene¬ 
mies. 
The length of the larval period for the 
first brood is 45 days, or about six and one- 
half weeks. In the second brood this pe¬ 
riod is shortened to 35 days, or five weeks. 
The full-grown larva, shown at Plate II, 
c, is about three-fourths of an inch (18 
mm.) in length. The body is large and the 
head is small and pointed. The general 
color of the body is a dirty gray, with the 
first segment brown on top and a broad line 
across it. The head is brown in color, with 
a light V-shaped line on top, this “V” 
opening toward the front of the head. 
Having completed its growth, ,the larva 
seeks a place in which to pupate, tho some¬ 
times the end of the feeding gallery may be 
enlarged and closed to serve as a cocoon. 
Tire cocoon may also be spun in the refuse 
under the comb and this mass of webs af¬ 
fords an excellent protection to the pupa. 
The most common place is in some crack or 
corner about the hive, as shown in Plate V, 
below, or between the frames and the hive 
or in the "bee space” at the end of the top- 
bars. as is shown in Plate VI, right. The 
larva prefers to get into a place which it 
can chew in order that a cavity may be 
constructed and the cocoon thus be better 
protected. 
Having prepared for the location of the 
cocoon, the larva begins to spin the silk 
