THE HONEY BEE FAMILY 27 



pear, but since they have never been mated, 

 their offspring are all drones and the hfe of 

 the community is not thereby prolonged. A 

 prosperous hive contains many thousands of 

 workers whose purpose in life is the gathering 

 of the food supply, building of the combs, pro- 

 tection of the store, cleaning the hive and other 

 labor necessary to the comfort of the inmates. 

 The drones are males, but do not share in any 

 productive work for the community. They 

 are dependent upon their industrious sisters 

 for their entire support and are tolerated, 

 apparently, because of necessity for the per- 

 petuation of the species. Late in fall when con- 

 ditions no longer favor the gathering of honey, 

 and when brood rearing has greatly diminished, 

 or in seasons of scarcity, they are driven from 

 the hive to perish. 



In common with other insects, bees pass 

 through four stages in completing their devel- 

 opment. Strangely enough, different periods 



