184 HOW TO KEEP BEES 



are doubtless sense organs; and it is believed that 

 certain microscopic pits, which occur in great num- 

 bers in their cuticle, are the organs of smell. It is 

 possible, also, that the antennae function as organs 

 of touch, certain hairs with which they are furnished 

 being the tactile organs. 



The mouth-parts are very complicated. They con- 

 sist of an upper lip, a lower lip, and two pairs of 

 jaws between the lips. 



The upper lip is known at the labrum. It is a flap- 

 like projection situated above, or in front of, the 

 other mouth-parts (Plate XXV, ). 



The first pair of jaws, those situated nearest the 

 labrum, are the mandibles (Plate XXV, 3, md). 

 Each mandible consists of a single hard piece. 

 They are the biting organs. Certain wild bees, 

 distantly related to the honey-bee, dig holes in wood 

 with their mandibles for nests for their brood. The 

 honey-bee uses its mandibles as tools for the manipu- 

 lation of wax and propolis, and as weapons in its 

 combats. 



The second pair of jaws, which are situated 

 between the mandibles and the lower lip, are the 

 maxillae (Plate XXV, 3, mx). Each maxilla is a long 

 blade. The maxillae, combined with the lower lip, 

 constitute what, in popular language, is known as 

 the tongue, the organ by means of which the food is 

 conveyed to the mouth, or the nectar extracted from 

 a flower. 



The lower lip, or labium (Plate XXV, 3, /), is the 

 long central part of the so-called tongue; it bears on 



