318 STATE BOAKD OF AGKICULTURE. 



term less applicable, as fclie word insect comes from the Latin and means to cut 

 in, and in no other articulates does the ring structure appear so marked uj^on 

 merely a superficial examination. More than this, the true insects when fully 

 develojied, have unlike all other articulates, three well marked divisions of the 

 body, namely : the head, which contains the antennae — the horn-like appendages 

 common to all insects ; eyes and mouth organs ; the thorax, which bears the 

 legs, and wings, when they are present; and lastly, the abdomen, which, 

 though usually memberless, contains the ovipositor, and when present, the sting. 

 Insects, too, undergo a more striking metamorphosis than do most animals. 

 When first hatched they are worm-like and called larvse, which means masked ; 

 afterward they are frequently quiescent, and Avould hardly be supposed to be 

 animals at all. They are then known as pupre. At last there comes forth the 

 imago ^^dth compound eyes, antennas, and Avings. In some insects the transfor- 

 mations are said to be incomplete, that is the larva, pupa, and imago differ little 

 except in size, and that the latter possesses wings. 



SUB-OEDEE OF THE HOXEY BEE. 



The honey bee belongs to the sub-order Hymenoptera, which also includes 

 the wasps, ants, ichneumon-flies and saw-flies. This group contains insects 

 wdiich possess a tongue by which they may suck (see Fig. 12 a), and sti'ong 

 jaws (see Fig. 12 c) for biting. Thus the bees can sij) the honeyed sweets of 

 flowers, and also gnaw away miitilated comb. They have, besides, four wings, 

 and undergo complete transformations. 



FAMILY OF THE HONEY BEE. 



The honey bee belongs to the family Apidge. Insects of this family have 

 robust bodies, usually very hairy, large heads, prominent eyes, — which in the 

 males meet above, — elbowed antennre, and very long tongues. Many of these 

 are social, and besides the true females, every colony possesses those Avitli abor- 

 tive ovaries, which are called neuters or workers. This group includes the 

 wax-secreting bees, and the humble-bees, which do not build wax cells, but 

 simply lay their eggs in the joollen masses, and the larvae, by feeding on the 

 pollen, hollow out egg-shaped cavities, which become the honey cells. Thus 

 so7?ie larvre feed only on pollen. Others of this family are solitary, like the 

 carpenter bee, which bores in wood ; the sand-bee, which digs in the earth ; and 

 the tailor bee, which cuts those regular pieces, circular or oblong, from our 

 rose-leaves or rose-petals, and from which it forms its wonderful thimble-shaped 

 cells. Thus we see that all the insects of this family possess strange instincts, 

 and habits so curious that few subjects of study yield more real pleasure and 

 gratification. 



GENUS OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



The genus Apis is characterized by the peculiar structure of the mouth- 

 parts and the venation of the wings. But to particularize would lead me too 

 deeply into the details of structure. 



SPECIES OF THE HONEY-BEE. 



The scientific name of the honey-bee is Apis mellifica, and the species will 

 be fully described as we proceed to explain its natural history and habits. The 

 races of the honey-bee will also be more appropriately considered in the sequel. 



