248 AGRICULTURE 



They have no sting. At the end of the 

 breeding season, when the honey harvest is 

 drawing to a close, and when they are no 

 longer required, the workers set upon them 

 and eject them from the hive, either stinging 

 them to death or leaving them to starve. 



Should the drones be retained in a hive 

 in the autumn, it is a sign that the hive is 

 without a queen. 



The workers The workers complete the population of a 

 hive. They are much smaller than either 

 queen or drones, and on them the whole life 

 of the colony depends. Indoors, they act as 

 nurses or protectors of the brood ; they provide 

 food for the queen and drones ; build the 

 combs ; clean the cells, and ventilate the hive. 



Outdoor work consists in gathering honey, 

 pollen and propolis. In short, every duty 

 connected with the marvellous organisation 

 of the hive depends upon them. 



On account of the hard, incessant work 

 which they perform, the life of the workers 

 only extends over a period from six to eight 



