FLOWERS 



37 



less visits, and worked only a little less time than the wasp worked. 

 It is evident that in the course of so many trips to the fields a 

 bee must light on and cross-pollinate many hundreds of flowers. 



Bumblebees ; a, queen ; 6, worker ; c, drone. 



Laboratory Study of a Bumblebee. — The careful study of the bumblebee 

 will give us some insight into the manner in which the bee transfers pollen. 

 Living specimens may be chloroformed and then used dry^ or material which 

 has been preserved in formol or alcohol will answer the purpose. The body 

 of an insect is divided into three regions; these may easily be found in the 

 bee. The anterior or front part is the head, the middle is the thorax, and 

 the posterior or hind part is the abdomen. The abdomen in the working 

 bees is terminated in a sharp sting. Look carefully at the abdomen; you 

 will find it is cut up into a series of little rings which taper off at the hind 

 end of the body. These rings are called segments. Notice that the legs 

 and wings are attached to the thorax. The wings are found on the dorsal 

 or upper side of the body, the legs on the lower or ventral surface. Look 

 at a leg with your hand lens. Is it all of one piece or jointed? When a 

 plant or animal structure is fitted to do certain kind or kinds of work, we say 

 that the structure is adapted to its functions. Can you determine how the 

 leg is adapted for movement and for clinging to an object? Can you find 

 any parts adapted to hold pollen ? Notice the collection of stiff hairs on 

 the joint next the body. In the honeybee these hairs are so arranged that 

 they act as receptacles for pollen, which the bee stores there to carry home 

 to the hive. Bees, wasps, and many other insects use pollen as food. 



The body of the bee, as well as the head and legs, are more or less com- 

 pletely covered with tiny hairs. Are the hairs any better developed m 

 certain parts of the body? If so, do you think they would be of use in 

 carrying pollen, and why ? 



Pollination not intended by the Bee. — The cross-pollination of 

 flowers is not planned by the bee; it is simply an incident in 

 the course of the food gathering. The bee visits a large number 

 of flowers of the same species during the course of a single visit 

 from the hive, and it is then that cross-pollination takes place. 



Field Work. — In any locality where flowers are abundant, try to answer 

 the following questions: How many bees visit the locality in ten minutes? 



