HYMENOPTERA. 227 



liant golden hairs which are used in collecting pollen. 

 The two pairs of wings (Fig. 177, ze/', ^") are similar 

 in structure, though the hind pair is less than one- 

 half the size of the fore pair. Both pairs are scaleless 

 and membranous, having few veins, in accordance with 

 the position of the bee as a species of the order Hymen- 

 optera -{vixriv, membrane ; rjvepov, wing) or membrane- 

 winged insects. The two wings on either side are 

 united by a number of hooks, so that a continuous 

 surface is presented to the air, and in this way the 

 power of flight greatly increased. The Hymenoptera 

 are, in fact, very swift fliers, and, with the exception 

 of selected forms in other orders, are able to keep 

 on the wing longer than other insects. 



The abdomen bears the long, pointed sting, which is 

 the ovipositor transformed into an organ of defence 

 and off'ence, and connected with the sting are two poi- 

 son-glands. The important part played by the use of 

 the sting in modifying the basal connection of the ab- 

 domen with the thorax has already been suggested 

 (see p. 224). In the skin there are many minute 

 glands which secrete wax. These open by small canals 

 on the surface. After the wax is secreted, it is excreted 

 in much the same way as is the scale of the scale- 

 insect and the powder of the aphis. 



The home- making instinct is strong in bees. When 

 hives are not provided, even the domesticated insects 

 often select hollow trees. In one hive there are some- 

 times fifty thousand bees. The colony consists of 

 workers, males, and a queen. The workers build and 

 repair the comb, collect the honey and pollen, and 

 take care of the young. As we have already seen. 



