16 BERS. 
reared the developing bees, and honey and pollen for food are also 
stored here. 
The cells built naturally are not all of the same size, those used in 
rearing worker bees being about one-fifth of an inch across, and those 
used in rearing drones and in storing honey about one-fourth of an 
inch across (fig. 11). The upper cells in natural combs are more 
irregular, and generally curve upward at the outer end. They are 
used chiefly for the storage of honey. Under manipulation the size 
of the cells is controlled by the bee keeper by the use of comb founda- 
tion—sheets of pure beeswax on which are impressed the bases of cells 
and on which the bees build the side walls. 
In the North, when the activity of the spring begins, the normal 
colony consists of the queen and some thousands of workers. As the 
outside temperature raises, the queen begins to lay eggs (fig. 12, a) 
in the worker cells. These in time develop into white larve (fig. 12, 
Fia. 10.—The honey bee: a, Worker; 6, queen; c, drone. Twice natural size. 
b, c), which grow to fill the cells. They are then capped over and 
transform first into pupe (fig. 12, d) and then into adult worker bees. 
As the weather grows warmer, and the colony increases in size by 
the emergence of the young bees, the quantity of brood is increased. 
The workers continue to bring in pollen, nectar to be made into honey, 
and water for brood rearing. When the hive is nearly filled with 
bees and stores, or when a heavy honey flow is on, the queen begins 
to lay eggs in the larger cells, and these develop into drones or males. 
Continued increase of the colony would result in the formation of 
enormous colonies, and unless some division takes place no increase 
in the number of colonies will result. Finally, however, the workers 
begin to build queen cells (fig. 13). These are larger than any other 
cells in the hive and hang on the comb vertically. In size and shape 
they may be likened to a peanut, and are also rough on the outside. 
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