THE WORKER 



93 



to the queen, but the difference in environment under which she 

 develops, makes of her a very different creature. The practical 

 apiarist takes advantage of this fact to utilize the eggs and larv« 

 from worker cells to rear queens in large numbers when such are 

 desirable. The worker is reared in the ordinary cell in which 

 honey is stored. The close confinement of the narrow cell de- 

 prives her of normal sexual development, and she is incapable of 

 mating and of normal sex life. In addition to the larger cell 

 occupied by the queen larv.T, the richer food, royal jelly, seems 

 to have a great bearing on the difference in development.' 



It is now generally agreed that the newly emerged bees are 

 first occupied with the duties within the hive, such as comb 

 building and nursing of the young. Later they go to the fields 

 to gatlier honey and pollen, and thus continue to the end of life. 

 It is probable that under normal conditions the young workers 

 do not go to the fields until they are from two to three weeks 

 old. During the honey flow the average length of life among the 

 workers is short, probably not much more than six weeks, while 

 those hatched late in summer after the harvest is gathered may 

 live until the following spring. 



Twenty-one days is the usual period of development, from 

 the time the egg is laid until the worker leaves the cell Three 

 days are required for the hatching of the egg, six days are spent 

 m the larval period, and twelve days within the cocoon after the 

 cell is sealed. This period varies slightly according to conditions 

 of heat or cold, or possibly because of other abnormal conditions 

 A newly emerged bee is easily recognized by her small size 

 and velvety appearance. One is reminded of a baby just learn- 

 ing to walk, by the uncertain attitude of the youngster. On 

 sunny afternoons large numbers of the young bees will be seen 

 m flight about the hive. These play spells are often mistaken 

 lor evidence of robbing by the novice. When brood-rearing is 

 at Its height, a pint or more of young bees will be emerging 

 every day to replace the old bees, which are wearing out in field 

 work. When they are about a week old, they take a flight to 



