418 HABITS OF INSECTS CHAK XL 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE HABITS OF IXSECTS IN RELATION TO THE FERTILISATION OP 

 FLOWERS. 



Insects visit the flowers of the same species as long as they can Cause 

 of this habit Means by which bees recognise the flowers of the 

 same species Sudden secretion of nectar Nectar of certain flowers 

 unattractive to certain insects Industry of bees, and the number 

 of flowers visited within a short time Perforation of the corolla 

 by bees Skill shown in the operation Hive-bees profit by the 

 holes made by humble-bees Effects of habit The motive for per- 

 forating flowers to save time Flowers growing in crowded masses 

 chiefly perforated. 



BEES and various other insects must be directed by 

 instinct to search flowers for nectar and pollen, as 

 they act in this manner without instruction as soon 

 as they emerge from the pupa state. Their instincts, 

 however, are not of a specialised nature, for they visit 

 many exotic flowers as readily as the endemic kinds, 

 and they often search for nectar in flowers which do 

 not secrete any ; and they may be seen attempting to 

 suck it out of nectaries of such length that it cannot 

 be reached by them.* All kinds of bees and certain 

 other insects usually visit the flowers of the same species 

 as long as they can, before going to another species. 

 This fact was observed by Aristotle with respect to the 



* See, on this subject, H. Miil- Hymenoptera have inherited from 



ler, ' Befruchtung,' &c. p. 427; some early nectar-sucking pro- 



and Sir J. Lubbock's 'British genitor greater skill in robbing 



Wild Flowers,' &c. p. 20. Muller flowers than that which is dis- 



dssigns ('Bienen Zeitung,' June played by insects belonging to 



1876, p. 119) good reasons for his the other Orders, 

 belief that bees and many other 



