The Life of the Individual 



125 



abdomen and also receive on the 



pollen combs (Fig. 64) the pollen 



collected by the second pair of 



legs. The pollen is moistened by 



the addition of fluid substances 



which come from the mouth and 



Casteel presents analyses (by Dun- 

 bar) showing that honey is used for 



this purpose. 



The method of loading pollen 



on the pollen baskets has been 



variously described, it usually being 



stated that it -is put in place by the 



second pair of legs. This is not the 



usual method, however, although a 



little pollen is added to the mass 



while the bee pats down its load 



with the second pair of legs (Fig. 



65). The loading is accomplished 



by the rubbing together of the 



inner surfaces of the hind legs 



(Figs. 66 and 67). It is removed 



from the pollen combs by the pecten combs, is pushed 



upward by pressure" of the auricles and is forced against 



the distal ends of the tibiae and on into the pollen 



baskets from 

 below, being 

 pushed upward 

 against any pol- 

 len that may 

 have been 

 loaded previ- 

 ously. The long 

 lateral hairs of 

 the pollen bas- 

 kets help to re- 



FIG. 67. Flying bee loading the pollen baskets. tain the pollen 



FIG. 66. Inner surface of 

 left hind leg of worker. 



