110 



Beekeeping 



As the secreted wax comes in contact with the air, it 

 hardens, forming the scales of wax. 



The manipulation by 

 the bees of the wax-scales 

 has been carefully de- 

 scribed by Casteel. 1 The 

 scales are removed from 

 the pockets by spines of 

 the pollen comb (Fig. 54) 

 on the first tarsal segment 

 (plant a) of the third pair 

 of legs. The surface of 

 the planta is passed over 

 the ventral side of the ab- 

 domen (Figs. 55 and 56) 

 and after the scale is loos- 

 ened the third leg is bent 

 forward (Figs. 57 and 58), 

 thus passing the scale to the front pair of legs. It is then 

 masticated by the mandibles, after which it is ready to put in 

 place in the new comb. 

 The various movements 

 in manipulatio'n are so 

 well shown in CasteePs 

 figures that further de- 

 scription is unnecessary. 

 It is clearly shown that 

 the so-called wax-shears, 

 which are described by 

 so many authors as be- 

 ing used to remove wax- 

 scales, have in fact nothing to do with the wax manipu- 

 lation. It is shown later that these are concerned in pollen 

 gathering. 



FIG. 57. Ventral view of worker pass- 

 ing wax-scale forward. Enlarged. 



FIG. 58. Side view of worker passing 

 wax-scale forward. Enlarged. 



1 Casteel, D. B., 1912. The manipulation of the wax scales of the 

 honey bee. Cir. No. 161, Bureau of Entomology, 13 pp. 



