Handbook of Nature-Study 



Look at the tongue under the microscope and see how it is fitted 

 for getting nectar froni flowers. 



8. What organs are borne on the thorax? 



9. Study the front or middle leg. How many joints has it ? 



10. With a lens find the antennae cleaner on the front leg. Describe 



it. 



1 1 . Describe the feet and claws. 



12. Compare the third segment of the hind leg with that of the front 



leg. 



13. Note that this segment of the hind leg is much wider. Note its 

 form and describe how it forms the pollen basket. 



14. Study the next segment of the hind leg, and note the wax pincers 

 and the pollen combs. 



15. Compare the front and hind wing as to shape and size. 



1 6. How many rings are there on the abdomen and how are the rings 

 colored above. 



17. Study the lower side of the body; do you know where the wax 



comes from ? 



1 8. Write an English theme on the development of the larva of the 

 worker bee ; the duties of a worker bee from the time it issues from its 

 cocoon until it dies working for the colony. 



The Queen Bee 



1. How does the queen differ in size and shape from the worker? 



2. Has she pollen baskets or pollen combs on her hind legs? 



3 . How does the shape of the abdomen differ from that of the worker ? 



4. Write an English theme on the life of a queen bee. This should 

 cover the following points: The kind of cell in which the queen is 

 developed ; the kind of food on which she is reared ; the fact that she never 

 stings people but reserves her sting for other queens ; why she does not 

 go out to gather honey ; how and by whom and on what she is fed ; she 

 would not use pollen baskets if she had them; the work she does for the 

 colony; the length of her life compared with that of a worker; the time 

 of year when new queens are developed, and what becomes of the old 

 queen when a new one takes her place ; why she is called a queen. 



The Drone 



1. How does the drone differ in size and form of body from the 

 worker? 



2 . How does he differ in these respects from the queen ? 



3. Has he pollen baskets on his legs? 



4. Has he a sting? 



5. Compare his eyes with those of the queen and worker. 



6. Compare the size of his wings with those of the queen and worker. 



7. Write an English theme on the drone. This should cover the fol- 

 lowing points: ] nwhat sort of cell is the drone developed; does he go 

 out to gather honey or help in the work of the hive ; how he is fed ; how 

 he is unfitted for work for the colony in the following particulars : Tongue, 

 lack of pollen baskets, lack of sting, and of wax pockets; why the drone 

 should be called a prince or king; the death of the drones; when and by 

 what means it occurs. 



