THE CARPENTER BEE. 



38 



generally found, even at this season. About two weeks ago, I 

 found as many as seven, I think, in one.&quot; * 



The hole is divided by partitions into cells about seven-tenths 

 of an inch long. These partitions are constructed of the coarse 

 dust or chippings made by the bee in 

 eating put her cells, for our active little 

 carpenter is provided with strong cut 

 ting jaws, moved by powerful muscles, 

 and on her legs are stiff brushes of hair 

 for cleaning out the tunnel as she de 

 scends into the heart of the solid wood. 

 She must throw out the chips she bite 

 off with her powerful mandibles from 

 the sides of the burrow, by means of her 

 hind legs, passing the load of chips back 

 wards out of the cell with her fore limbs, 



which she uses as 



hands. 

 The partitions are 



built most elaborately 



of a single flattened 



band of chips, which 



is rolled up into a coil 



four layers deep. One 



side, forming the bot- 

 20. Larva aud Pupa torn of the cell, is con- 

 of Anthrax. cave, being beaten 

 down aud smoothed off by the bee. The 

 other side of the partition, forming the 

 top of the cell, is flat and rough. 



At the time of opening the burrow, 

 July 8th, the cells contained nearly full- 

 grown larvae, with some half developed. 

 They were feeding on the masses of 

 pollen, which were as large as a thick kid 

 ney bean, and occupied nearly half the 

 celL The larvae (Fig. 21) resemble those 21 - Nest of Carpenter Bee. 

 of the Humble bee, but are slenderer, tapering more rapidly 

 towards each end of the body. 



* &quot; Since writing the above I have opened one of the new holes of Xylo- 

 copa, which was commenced between three and four weeks ago, in a pine 



