442 THE BIOLOGY OF INSECTS 



centuries at least before the Christian era, for the sake of 

 their sweet product. Where Apis mellifica was not domesti- 

 cated, men sought out the combs of various species of Apis 

 and, like the prophet of the Judaean wilderness, fed gladly 

 on " wild honey." The constant association of sweetness 

 with the hive-bee's product is well illustrated by an ex- 

 pression used when, through the Indian expedition of 

 Alexander, cane-sugar became known to the Greeks ; it 

 was stated that the Macedonian conqueror had fed on 

 ** solid honey not made by bees." It is of interest to find 

 that swarms of domesticated bees, if not provided with 

 new hives, may establish themselves in hollow trees or 

 similar situations, thus demonstrating the capacity of the 

 species to revert to an independent life notwithstanding its 

 long association with mankind. The wax secreted by bees 

 is a product of considerable value to man in addition to 

 their honey ; beeswax is used for the manufacture of 

 polishes, varnishes, and ointments as well as by sculptors 

 for modelling and for dentists for taking moulds of their 

 patients' palates and gums. It is interesting to remember 

 that some wax is returned as a labour-saving device to the 

 bees, in the " artificial foundation " provided for the con- 

 struction of the comb in the wooden frame-hives, now 

 generally used by modern bee-keepers. 



After the hive-bee the most familiar and important 

 of domesticated insects are the *' silkworms," caterpillars 

 of Bomhyx mori and of various species of Saturniidae, whose 

 cocoons are constructed of pure silken threads which can 

 be unwound, and used for spinning the material of which 

 silken fabrics are woven. The '' Common Silkworm " 

 (Bomhyx mori) was cultivated in China before the year 

 2500 B.C., and until comparatively recent times no other 

 species was used as a source of silk for use in manufacture. 

 After the eastern conquests of Alexander silken fabrics 

 became known to the Greeks and Romans, but the pro- 

 duction of silken thread was a monopoly of the Far Eastern 

 peoples until the sixth century a.d., when returning monks 

 brought cocoons of Bombyx to Constantinople. The moths 



