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A SOCIAL INSECT— THE HONEYBEE 



hive performing a great variety of tasks, often changing to a different 

 one when the need for it becomes greater. Actually it has been found, 

 by marking newly hatched bees, that age is the chief factor determining 

 the type of work to be performed. 



During the first three days after hatching the bees loaf on the combs 

 containing the brood. This helps keep the larvae warm. After they 

 have cleaned themselves, they start cleaning out the cells from which 



X 



Photo by Winchester 



Fig. 16.1. The three kinds of honeybees. Queen, above; worker, on the left; and 



drone, on the right. 



other bees have just emerged. From the age of three to six days, 

 the young house bees act as nurses to the older larvae, feeding them 

 a mixure of pollen and honey. From the sixth to the thirteenth day, 

 the glands which secrete the food called royal jelly become active, and 

 these houses bees now feed the younger brood. Some of them may 

 become the queen's attendants. They bring her food and water, carry 

 off her excrement, comb her hairs, and stand ready to care for every 

 need. Actually as the queen moves rapidly over the combs, the at- 

 tendants change, and she may "beg food" by extending her tongue to 

 any bee she meets. If this worker has food available, she opens her 

 mandibles and allows the queen to drink from her mouth. 



