APIAPtl.E. 127 



Professor Wyman noticed the transition made with only onc^ 

 cell, as in Fig. 78, but not without destroying the regularit}' of 

 the two adjoining rows. 



"In consequence of the gradual narrowing or widening of 

 the transition cells, the comb tends to become more or less tri- 

 angular and the cells to become disturbed. The bees counter- 

 act this tendency by the occasional intercalation of an additional 

 row, of which two instances are given in Fig. 78, at a and 6. 

 where three rows of worker cells are continuous with two of 

 drone cells, c, d and e, /; or, reversing the statement, and 

 supposing the transition, as in the building of the comb, is 

 from worker to drone-cells, a row of the latter is from time to 

 time omitted as the rows a and h; in this way, the regularity of 

 the comb is jsreserved." 



Ilonej'-cells are formed either by enlarging the ordinary 

 brood-cells, or adding them to others often larger, or by con- 

 structing a new comb, dcA'oted entirely to the storing of honey. 

 ' ' While the cells of this last are built unequivocally in accord- 

 ance with the hexagonal type, they exhibit a range of variation 

 from it which almost defies description." 



No Ichneumon-flies are known to attack the larva of the 

 Honey-bee, nor in fact, with few exceptions, any of the wild 

 bees, owing, probably, to the difficult}' of their gaining access 

 to them, since A7i07nalo7i vespamm has been reared from the 

 cells of wasps which are more exposed than those of bees. 

 ])ut the Honey, as well as the wild bees, are afflicted b}' a 

 peculiar assemblage of insect-parasites, some of which have 

 the most remarkable habits. The most formidable pest of the 

 Ilive-bee is the Bee Fly, Phora incrassata, which in Europe 

 sometimes produces the well-known disease called "foul- 

 brood." The Bee-louse, Braula cwca, is, in Europe, sometimes 

 troublesome to the adult bee, while Trichodes apiarins, a beetl(\ 

 devours the larvte. The larvae of Meloe and Stylops are known 

 in Europe to infest the Honey-bee, and among the low intesti- 

 nal worms Assraus enumerates Gordius subbifurciis which in- 

 fests the drones of the Hone^'-bee as well as other insects. 

 Professor Siebold has also described Mermis albicans^ which 

 is a similar kind of hair-worm, from two to five inches long, 

 and whitish in color. This worm is also found, sti'angely 



