The Life Processes of the Individual 



141 



vnrf 



tube (without chitin) which represents the tenth abdominal 

 segment (X) so that the bee, like most other insects, has 

 ten abdominal segments. In the drone, nine of these seg- 

 ments are partially visible. The plates of the abdomen 

 are easily movable, being connected by membranes so that 

 the abdomen may be distended by food, or in the queen 

 by the growth of the ovaries. In the typical segments 

 (II-VII), there is a tergum (T) covering the dorsal and 

 lateral surfaces, overlapping a sternum (S) or ventral piece. 

 The spiracles (see p. 151) (Sp) are on the terga (see Figs. 

 73 and 75). 



The eighth, ninth 

 and tenth segments 

 of the drone are not 

 typical. The tergum 

 of the eighth seg- 

 ment (Fig. 93, D, 

 VIIIT) is partly 

 covered by that of 

 the seventh and car- 

 ries the most pos- 

 terior of the spiracles 

 (Sp). The sternum 

 of this segment 



(VI I IS) is likewise concealed on the ventral side. The 

 dorsal portion of the ninth segment is chitinized to but 

 a small extent but the ventral portion (IXS) is chitin- 

 ized and carries two pairs of clasping organs, used during 

 copulation (IClsp and 2Clsp). The penis is extruded during 

 mating between the clasping organs. 



ACl 



SKA Tri Ob 



FIG. 76. Tip of abdoinen of worker with left 

 side removed, showing normal position of 

 sting and anus. 



DIGESTION 



The workers take in food not only for their own nourish- 

 ment but also that they may be able to provide food for 

 the larvae. The queen eats frequently, especially during 

 the period of active egg-laying, and a rapid metabolism 



