126 Beekeeping 



masses. It is thus clear that the so-called wax-shears, 

 formed by the pecten and auricle, are part of the apparatus 

 for pollen packing and, as shown earlier (p. 110), they have 

 nothing to do with wax manipulation. Casteel shows also 

 that in packing pollen in the cells of the combs additional 

 moisture is probably used, for analyses show a higher per- 

 centage of sugar than in pollen from the legs. 



Propolis collection. 



The collection of propolis has not been so adequately 

 described. This substance consists of gums collected from 

 various trees and other materials of a similar consistency. 

 The "bees carry it to the hive on the pollen baskets, the load 

 sometimes appearing smooth and shiny, at other times 

 rough, depending upon the material collected. It is usually 

 gathered most abundantly in late summer and autumn, 

 and races of bees differ in the amount of propolis which they 

 collect. Caucasian bees are troublesome because of the 

 great quantities which they deposit in the hive (p. 197). 

 Inside the hive, propolis is deposited on rough surfaces, in 

 cracks and openings that are smaller than a bee-space 

 (p. 26) and sometimes on the upper portions of the combs. 

 The " travel-stain " frequently seen on comb-honey is 

 propolis. Heddon showed some years ago that bees do not 

 deposit it on smooth surfaces. 



The collection of water is most commonly observed in 

 early spring and during the hottest part of the summer, 

 there probably being less need for water when the humidity 

 within the hive is high. It is carried to the hive in the honey- 

 stomach (Fig. 60), as is nectar. 



DURATION OF LIFE 



The length of life of the various members of the colony 

 under different conditions presents a problem of great in- 

 terest. The queen bee normally lives several years, while 



