BENEFICIAL INSECTS 201 



honey bee is for the work it has to perform. A refer- 

 ence to fig. 57 will show that the insect's legs are covered 

 with rough hairs, coarser hairs, and combs, comprised of 

 short spines; each of these hair groups is designed for a 

 special purpose. In A, fig. 57, at pb, it will be seen that 

 the limb is considerably hollowed and is fringed, on either 

 side, with coarse hairs: this is a "pollen basket," and 

 into it the pollen is placed by the bees, after they have 

 kneaded it into little pellets. At j, in A and B, are jaws 

 or pincers, used to gather the wax that is secreted on the 

 ventral surface of the bee, and utilised in forming the comb. 

 At c, in B, are rows of combs or spines ; these are used to 

 comb off the pollen which collects on the hair of the head, 

 thorax, and legs of the insect, after it has visited a flower. 

 " It is probable, also, that the tongue is an important organ 

 for gathering pollen grains as well as nectar, for it seems 

 to be fringed with fine hair on which pollen dust might 

 readily lodge. Just how the bee cleans its tongue it is 

 difficult to see; but the brushes on the fore legs are 

 evidently designed for the purpose of rolling these grains 

 off, which probably contain a little honey or nectar. In 

 any event, they are transferred to the middle legs from the 

 fore legs, and from the middle legs to the pollen basket, in 

 a way that leaves sleight-of-hand in the shade, unless one 

 watches the whole operation with a powerful glass. The 

 transfer seems to go on in the blossom and even after the 

 insect is on the wing. Dust the bee all over with flour, and 

 it immediately begins the process of brushing its hairs. It 

 will rub the palms of its legs and then begin the work of 

 combing itself, reaching with its middle and fore legs over 

 its back and cleaning its antennae with its fore legs. All 

 the manoeuvres may take place while it rests on some object 

 or while on the wing, but the bee is unable to reach over 

 its entire body, especially the top of its back. After it 

 enters the hive it is cleaned by other bees, when, after a 

 little, it will be brushed and groomed, every particle of 



