CHAP. XXIV 



INSECTA : HYMENOPTERA 



363 



behind the head, though the full number is not always visible 

 externally. 



The metamorphosis is great, and takes place during a 

 resting pupal stage. The social habit is common, with a 

 differentiation of castes of individuals in many of the 

 Societies. 



Classifica- The following families of the Hymenoptera will 

 tion. be considered here : 



1. Bees (Apidae}. 



2. Social Wasps (Vespidae). 



3. Solitary Wasps (Eumenidae). 



4 . Digging Wasps (Pompilidae and Sphegidae). 



5. Ants (Formicidae). 



Series Parasitica ( 6. Saw-flies (Tenthredinidae). 



7. Gall-flies (Gynipidae). 



Series Aculeata 

 (possessing a sting). 



(having an ovipositor. 

 instead of a sting). [ 8. Ichneumon-flies (Ichneumonidae). 



Family 1. Bees (Apidae). 



Bees are large insects with hairy bodies ; 

 many of them live socially in colonies with a 

 differentiation of the individuals into three 

 castes : queens, males, and workers (incom- 

 pletely developed females), all of which are 

 winged. The food consists of pollen and 

 nectar, the latter being obtained from flowers 

 by means of the lengthened modified mouth- 

 parts which form the proboscis characteristic 

 of the family (Fig. 289). 



The Honey Bee (Apis mellifica). 1 



Constitution Honey bees live a social life in 

 of the communities of many thousands. 

 During the greater part of the 



Worker 



Colony. 



1 Much of our knowledge of Bee life we owe to the 

 ingenious experiments devised by Francis Huber, the 

 blind naturalist. In spite of his great affliction, he 

 was able owing to the help of his devoted servant, 

 Francis Burnens, who literally became eyes to him to 

 devote himself for many years to the study of Bees, pub- 

 lishing in 1789 the results of his researches in a book entitled Nouvelles 

 Observations sur les Abeilles. 



Dront. 

 v 



FIG. 287. 

 The Honey Bee 

 (Apis mellifica}. 



