INSECTA, CONTINUED 215 



in passing back the pollen from the other legs and depositing it in the pollen 

 baskets. 



The posterior leg, of which both surfaces are shown, is most highly special- 

 ized. Along the edges of the tibia are developed strong rows of hairs which 

 form a pocket or basket, in which the pollen is carried. 



The joint between the tibia and the first tarsal segment is shaped like a pair 

 of shear jaws, and is used for wax working. 



The first tarsal segment is provided with rows of stiff hairs which help to 

 comb the pollen into the baskets, or from the opposite legs. 



The rest of the tarsal segments are developed as usual, for clinging in loco- 

 motion, in the case of all three sets of legs. 



In the bee, then, there are at least six different functions performed by the 

 legs, for which they are provided with special structural adaptations. 



Such high development is probably the result of the habit of communal 

 life which permits greater. division of labor than is possible where animals live 

 alone or in pairs. 



The Drones. The drone, while larger than the worker, is smaller 

 than the queen and has a thick, broad body, enormous eyes, and 

 very powerful wings. It is not provided with pollen baskets, 

 sting, or wax pockets. 



His tongue is not long enough to get nectar, so he has to be fed 

 by the workers and his sole function is to fertilize the eggs of the 

 queen. However, this easy life has its troubles for with the coming 

 of autumn when honey runs low, the workers will no longer support 

 the drones, but sting them to death, and their bodies may be found 

 around the hives in September. 



The Workers. The workers are by far the most numerous 

 inhabitants of the hive; they are undeveloped females, smaller 

 than drones with the ovipositor modified into the sting, and with 

 all the adaptations of legs, wings, and mouth parts, which have 

 been described. 



With the exception of the process of reproduction, all the varied 

 industries and products of the hive are their business and they 

 perform, at different times, many different kinds of work as well 

 as providing the three hive products wax, honey, and propolis. 

 In summer they literally work themselves to death in three to 

 four weeks, but may live five to six months over winter. 



Products of the Hive. Wax is a secretion from the abdominal 

 segments of workers, which comes after they have first gorged 



