214 



BIOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS 



After a few days she takes a wedding flight in the air, where she 

 mates with a drone, or male bee. Then the eggs are fertilized, 

 and she returns to the hive and begins her life work of laying eggs. 

 If the workers prevent her from destroying the other queens, she 

 takes part of the colony and " swarms " out to seek a home else- 

 where. A queen may live from three to ten years. 



PC 



BE 



FIG. 71. Honey Bee Leg Adaptations. 



Notice that in all the legs there are the same number of segments, but dif- 

 ferently developed. This is an excellent example of division of labor or speciali- 

 zation among homologous parts. 



The anterior leg has, at the first tarsal joint, a notch and a movable spine 

 over it, so that the antennae may be drawn through and cleaned of pollen 

 after visits to the flowers. When you realize that the antennae are the insect's 

 most important sense organs, except possibly the eyes, this is seen to be an 

 important special function. 



The middle leg is only slightly modified, but has a strong spine which is used 



