HYMENOPTERA—BEES 145 
related to this. I shall therefore, in the following account, substantially repeat 
the descriptions of this distinguished investigator. 
A. Membrane-winged Insects (Hymenoptera), 
Of insects concerned with the pollination of European flowers, these are the 
most important. The first place must be given to 
Bers (ApipaE), 
which of all insects stand on the highest level of specialization in regard to flower 
pollination, and are alone capable of putting into action numerous flower-mechanisms 
which remain closed to all other visitors. Not only are they most skilful in the 
quest for flower-food, but they are also most zealous, for besides feeding upon 
substances derived from flowers as adults, they rear their young entirely on such 
food. The whole existence of bees is therefore, says Hermann Miller (‘ Fertilisation,’ 
p. 46), bound up with flowers to such an extent that they by themselves present 
more adaptations to procuring flower-food, and considerably more with regard to 
pollination, than all other orders of insects, with the possible exception of Lepidoptera, 
put together, and have therefore brought about a larger number of floral adaptations. 
The honey-bee (Fig. 58, 5, 6) is pre-eminent among its kind as regards adapta- 
tion to pollination. With wonderful certainty it solves the problems presented 
ae 
i 
Fic. 58. Pollen-collecting apparatus on the hind-legs of bees (after Hermann Miller). (1) Right 
hind-leg of Macropis labiata Pz. 9, seen from behind and within. (2) The same laden with pollen of 
Lysimachia vulgaris. (3) Right hind-leg of Bombus Scrimshiranus A. $, seen from behind and within. 
(4) Tibia (shin) of the same, seen from the outer side (collecting-basket). (5) Right hind-leg of the honey- 
bee (Apis mellifica Z. %), seen from behind and within. (6) Tibia (shin) of the same from the outer side. 
¢, coxa (hip); /, trochanter; 7, femur (thigh) ; zz, tibia (shin); ¢, tarsus (foot); #’, basal joint of the tarsus. 
Fig. (1) naturally only shows in side view the collecting-hairs of Macropis, which cover the outer surfaces 
of the tibia, and basal joint of the tarsus. i 
by the most involved floral mechanisms. It goes to work in a purposeful manner, 
as if conscious of the end in view, and confines its attention strictly to the species 
of flower it has selected. Its body presents the most perfect adaptations to the 
collection of pollen and the sucking of nectar. For gathering pollen it has a 
pollen-collecting apparatus on its hind-legs, and this is the most perfect arrangement 
of the kind in any of the ‘scopulipedes,’ one of the chief divisions of the bees. 
DAVIS L 
