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Information on bee moths (Aphomia)?

Does anyone know anything about Aphomia bee moths, or know where I might find good life history information for them? Specifically, I'm hoping to find a good description of their cocoons. I have a few of the cocoons pictured here

and have cut a couple open and confirmed that there are moth pupal remains inside. I emailed a lepidopterist to see if he would be willing to take a look at them, which he wasn't, but he said to "start with Aphomia."
I read here that their cocoons are usually spun gregariously, and sometimes outside the bee nest, so it seems possible, but not quite enough to base an ID on. All the scientific papers I've found that seemed promising turned out to be in some European language I don't know.
If anyone is able to ID moth pupae or knows someone who is able and willing, that would be good to know too.
Thanks!

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Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 19 November, 2008 - 3:26pm

Puzzling.

You might try posting a link to these images to a Lepidoptera listserv (there should be several), and see what experts have to say. Meanwhile, I might try and post a link to my Entomo-l listserv.

… Eric R. Eaton, 8 December, 2008 - 2:57pm

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Genus confirmed...

Thanks for responding. I recently added a comment to the companion image, noting that I had found a paper with a photo of cocoons identical to these:

Gambino, Parker. 1995. Dolichovespula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Hosts of Aphomia sociella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society, Vol. 103, No. 2, pp. 165-169.

They are described as being extremely tough, just as these are. I'm not sure if species of Aphomia other than A. sociella may make similar cocoons. I have also found references (or abstracts thereof) indicating that these moths are not obligate bee parasites, but may be found in wasp or even mouse nests, and as I mentioned they sometimes leave the nest to form their gregarious cocoons. So finding them in an old pile of boards seems very plausible.

… Charley Eiseman, 8 December, 2008 - 3:30pm

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