HYMENOPTERA. 6 



pointed body. She is developed in a cell which differs 

 greatly from the ordi- 

 nary hexagonal cell of 

 honeycomb. This cell 

 is large, cylindrical, and 

 extends vertically. In 

 Figure 797 the begin- 

 nings of two queen- 

 cells are represented on 

 the lower edge of the 

 comb, and a completed 



Cell extends Over the FlG - 797-— Comb of the Honey-bee, with queen-cells. 



face of the comb near the left side. From the lower end 

 of this cell hangs a lid, which was cut away by the workers 

 to allow the queen to emerge. 



The larva; that are to develop into either workers or 

 drones, and w 7 hich are contained in hexagonal, horizontal 

 cells, are fed with honey and bee-bread. But the occupant 

 of a queen-cell is furnished with very different food — a sub- 

 stance called by bee-keepers royal jelly. This royal jelly is 

 a substance which resembles blanc-mange in color and con- 

 sistency. It is excreted from the mouth by the workers, 

 and is a very nutritious food. 



It has been demonstrated that in the egg state there is 

 no difference between a worker and a queen. When the 

 workers wish to develop a queen they tear down the parti- 

 tions between three adjacent cells containing eggs that 

 under ordinary conditions would develop into workers. 

 Then they destroy two of the eggs, and build a queen-cell 

 over the third. When the egg hatches they feed the larva 

 with royal jelly, and it develops into a queen. 



In early summer several queen-cells are provided in each 

 colony; as soon as a queen is developed from one of these 

 the old queen attempts to destroy her. But the young 

 queen is guarded by the workers, and then the old queen 



