Cf^e (Dii'io TCainvalist 



PUBLISHED BY 



THE BIOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY 



Vol. U JUNE, I90I No. 8 



A STUDY IN VARIATION ON THE WING OF THE 



HONEY BEE. 



F. L. Landacre. 



While working on the Honey Bee in the laboratory at the Uni- 

 versity it was observed that the number of hooks connecting the 

 posterior wing with the anterior was not constant. 



The query at once arose as to the amount of variation there 

 might be between different bees in the same hive and also between 

 different hives. Out of this grew a somewhat practical problem as 

 to whether the increase in number of hooks was associated with a 

 decrease in the size of the wing, or whether the increase in number 

 of hooks also implied an increase in size of wing. 



The wings of the bee are undoubtedly more efficient for be- 

 ing closely attached to each other. The life of the workers is so 

 short, being only about three weeks, and their activity so great that 

 any increase in efficiency, especially in the organs of flight, must 

 have a very direct influence on the welfare of the whole swarm. 

 So far as the well being of the swarm depends upon nutritive pro- 

 cesses the efficiency of the hive is equal to the average efficiency of 

 the workers. Now, if the increase in number of hooks and the con- 

 sequent, firmer attachment of the wings is compensated for by a 

 smaller wing, there is much less opportunity for the operation of 

 natural selection on the individual bees than if the greater number 

 of hooks is always associated with a broader or longer wing. 



This selective process might occur either in the hive or between 

 hives. If it occurs in the hive it would increase the efficiency of the 

 hive somewhat; but if it occurs between hives it finally means the 

 elimination of the weaker hive and the consequent increased effi- 

 ciency of the species. 



In order to find out the real conditions, one of the students, Mr. 

 J. N. Frank, took twenty-five workers from each of four hives and 

 counted the number of hooks on each wing, right and left, and also 

 Pleasured the width of the anterior and posterior wings on each side, 



