10 MANIPULATION OP WAX SCALES OF THE HONEY BEE. 



shown in figure 7. Such free scales are not marked as they would be 

 had they been extracted by such a structure as the so-called wax 

 shears. 



So far as can be determined there does not appear to be any regu- 

 lar order for the removal of scales. One may be taken from the 

 left side and then one from the right, or the bee may remove two or 

 three from one side in succession. An attempt to remove a scale is 

 by no means always successful, the worker often trying first one side 

 and then the other, pressing the pollen combs against the more ante- 

 rior scales and running them down to the most posterior, until at 

 last a scale is impaled upon the spines or the bee discontinues its 

 efforts. 



FUETHER MANIPULATION AND THE MASTICATION OF SCALES. 



When a scale has become attached to the spines it is transferred to 

 the mouth with gi-eat rapidity, so swiftly, in fact, that the eye can 

 scarcely follow the action. This is not surprising, for it is necessary 

 only to flex the leg toward the head to bring the scale in close con- 

 tact with the forelegs and mandibles. The leg is rotated through 

 the arc of a circle, downward, forward, and upward, while at the 

 same time the head is slightly turned under to receive the scale. 

 The process of mastication is more prolonged. It is usually sup- 

 posed that the pure wax of the scale differs in chemical composition 

 from the wax of the comb, this change being accomplished during 

 mastication, by which process the wax is mixed with saliva, becomes 

 translucent rather than transparent, changes somewhat in color, and 

 becomes more pliable. 



The behavior of a bee upon receiving a wax scale at its mouth is 

 subject to considerable variation. On some occasions the scales are 

 apparently manipulated bj^ the mandibles alone, while at other times 

 the forelegs are brought into requisition and assist the mandibles. 

 When a scale is thin and small and has been firmly grasped by the 

 mandibles little assistance is needed from the legs. But if a 

 scale of medium or extra thickness is presented, or if the mandibles 

 do not hold it securely and it is in danger of falling from the mouth, 

 the two forelegs are used to great advantage in readjusting the scale 

 and in so holding it that the mandibles may be applied to it most 

 advantageously. If a scale is small and thin, it may be masticated 

 entirel}^ before any wax is applied to the comb ; but if of considerable 

 size a portion only may be prepared, this deposited upon the comb, 

 and then the remainder treated in a similar manner. 



As a rule the wax which is deposited upon the comb by the pro- 

 ducing bee is first subjected to the action of the mandibles and 

 mixed with saliva. Such, however, is not always the case, for some 

 bees appear to be " careless " and will mingle small unchewed por- 

 tions of scales with the masticated wax. Indeed, it is not uncom- 



