334 N. E. McINDOO 



When tested with odors they responded normally, but slightly 

 more slowly. The average reaction time to oil of peppermint 

 was 2.4 seconds, to oil of thyme 3.3 seconds, to oil of wintergreen 

 3.5 seconds, and the average 3 seconds. This is 0.4 second slower 

 than the general average of unmutilated bees with the same 

 odors. The workers tested were 17. 



Wings pulled off 



All four wings of 150 middle-aged workers were pulled off. 

 This is accomplished* by holding the bee firmly on a table and 

 by giving each wing a quick jerk, severing it at its articulation. 

 A microscopical examination of the detached wings showed that 

 they possessed all the groups of pores. Judging by their behavior 

 and longevity these wingless workers were otherwise normal in 

 every way. When first introduced into observation cases, they 

 immediately busied themselves in cleaning each other, during 

 which operation they often licked up the drop of yellowish blood 

 that exuded where the wing was detached. They also ate freely, 

 fed each other, never fought, and, in fact, behaved as normally 

 as unmutilated bees in such surroundings. They lived from 3 

 hours to 17 days, with 9 days and 20 hours as an average. 



Strange bees which were put among them were at once recog- 

 nized as strangers. The wingless ones ran after the strangers, 

 bit their legs and pulled their wings, but only occasionally did 

 a wingless bee seize a stranger, and not once did one attempt 

 to sting a strange worker. This treatment lasted only a few 

 minutes, for in a short time the wingless bees fed, cleaned, and 

 even stroked the strangers with their antennae. The behavior 

 toward strange bees was entirely different than that shown by 

 those with their wings cut off just beyond these pores. Pulling 

 off the wings later proved to be a good precaution before mixing 

 strange bees. It is slow but always effective, because they 

 never kill one another even though they may be slightly hostile 

 at first. 



These wingless bees were tested with odors in the usual man- 

 ner. Their responses, when they reacted, were similar to those 



