BEES AND WASPS [CH. 



the food which suited the full-grown insect was equally 

 capable of nourishing the larvae. Since again, the 

 vegetable products, pollen and nectar, are far less 

 liable than dead insects to undergo decomposition, 

 storage of considerable quantities becomes possible ; 

 and thus we can to some extent at any rate picture 

 to ourselves the process by which the wonderful order, 

 social economy and prolonged vitality of the com- 

 munit} T has been brought about in the case of the 

 honey-bee. 



The majority of the bees are clad in rather sober 

 colours; but some, e.g. Sphecodes, are black and 

 red, others, e.g. Nomada, yellow and black or yellow 

 and red. It is a curious fact, for which I can offer no 

 explanation, that those bees which are "cuckoos" in 

 habits are for the most part more conspicuously 

 dressed than those which are more respectable and 

 conscientious parents. It is not so surprising that 

 the "cuckoo-bees" are generally, though not always, 

 comparatively smooth and destitute of the hairy 

 covering which is so common a feature in most bees. 

 The presence of hairs, and especially of plumose hairs, 

 is no doubt of great value in entangling and collect- 

 ing from flowers the pollen on which all bees more 

 or less rely: the "cuckoo" whose young is nourished 

 at the expense of another's industry has no use for 

 any special growth of hair and remains comparatively 

 bald. 



