Social Insects. 



17 



similar structures possessed by other species of social bees, such 

 as the Meliponae and Bombi, and still more remotely from such 

 as are possessed by the solitary bees. Here again I trust to dia 

 grams, and relegate detailed exposition to a note. (See Note 

 3 and Figs. 1 and 2.) 



In the production of wax the Hive Bee exhibits a lavishness 

 not found in any of the wild bees, not excepting the species of 

 Trigona and Melipona, which approach it most nearly in social 

 economy. As a result we find that the wax-secreting organs of 

 Apis are much larger than in any other wax-producing bees. In 

 Bonibus they are greatly reduced and otherwise different in struc 

 ture, resembling, however, very closely, those obtaining in Meli 

 pona and Trigona. In the solitary bees, which produce no wax, 

 these specialized structures are entirely wanting. (See Note 4.) 

 But the most interesting fact is that in the queen bee, in which 

 they are functionless, they are nevertheless present, but more 

 nearly resemble the same structures in Melipona. 



FIG. 4. ARCHITECTURE OF BEES: i, cell of bumble-bee ; 2, end of same showing 

 eggs ; 3, Xylocopa virgiiiica, the carpenter bee ; 5, cells of same ; 6, larva of bee parsi e, 

 Anthrax sinuosa ; 7, pupa of Anthrax ; 12, cells of mason bee, Osmta lignivora natural 

 size. (After Packard.) 



