APIS MELLIFICA. 187 



from an abundance of liquid the extemporized tube formed by 

 the labial palps and maxillae around the labium is used, the 

 liquid being drawn in by means of the sucking stomach. When 

 the liquid is in very small quantities it is apparently lapped up 

 by the spoon and transferred through the labium. 



A figure of the mouth parts is desirable. 



Sting. The sting is to be regarded as a modified ovipositor 

 that is no longer concerned in depositing eggs, but has become 

 a weapon of offense and defense. It is accordingly present only 

 in the female. The queen never uses her sting except on other 



queens. 



Remove the dorsal integument of the abdomen of either a 

 fresh or preserved specimen, and find the dark brown shaft of 

 the sting, near the posterior end. Grasp the shaft with a pair 

 of fine forceps and forcibly remove it. A considerable mass of 

 tissue will be removed adhering to the base of the shaft, but this 

 consists for the most part of accessory organs that must be 

 understood. Spread the sting upon a slide, and either dehy- 

 drate and mount in balsam, or mount in glycerin. The balsam 

 mount will prove more satisfactory, but the cover must be 

 clamped down until the balsam hardens. 



1. The shaft consists of three parts: 



(a) A heavy support, called the awl or sheath, pointed at its 

 extremity and sending a pair of arms or arches from its base, 

 which normally bend ventrally, but are here forced to the sides. 

 At its extremity each of these arches enlarges to form a rather 

 large flattened plate, the sheath plate, to which strong muscles 

 are attached. 



(b) A pair of lancets which are fastened to the dorsal surface 

 of the sheath and the sheath arches by tongue and groove joints 

 (each tongue is enlarged along its inner margin so that it is held 

 firmly in the groove). Each lancet is pointed at its free extrem- 

 ity, and its sides near the point are set with barbs that point 

 toward the base of the sting. The arch of each lancet is con- 



1 The comparative study of the mouth parts of a butterfly, horse-fly 

 house-fly, and mosquito will prove valuable. 



