PHYLUM ARTHROPODA 



325 



The 



Transition cells 

 A 



The Activities of the Workers. All of the duties necessary 

 for maintaining a successful colony are performed by the workers, 

 except mating with the queen, which is accomplished by the 

 drones, and laying the eggs, which is done by the queen. 



BUILDING HONEYCOMB. The wax which is used to build 

 honeycomb is secreted in thin scales by the wax glands, 

 wax is removed by 

 the wax pinchers 

 (Fig. 238, B, wp) 

 and transferred to 

 the mouth, where it 

 is mixed with saliva 



and kneaded by the Drone cells Transition cells Worker cells 



mandibles. If new 

 comb is to be built, 

 the wax is plastered 

 to the roof, and in 

 some mysterious way 

 each bee puts its 

 contribution almost 

 exactly where it is 

 to remain. The cells 

 which are built up 

 are hexagonal in 

 shape and of various 

 sizes. Six kinds may 

 be recognized (Fig. 

 248), (i) worker cells 

 in which workers are 



reared, (2) drone cells in which drones develop, (3) queen cells 

 which are large and irregular, (4) transition cells between worker 

 and drone cells, (5) attachment cells which fasten the comb to the 

 top or sides of the hive, and (6) honey cells in which honey is 

 stored. Honey may be stored also in drone, worker, and transi- 

 tion cells. Careful measurements have shown that the cells are 



FIG. 248. Honeycomb showing various kinds 

 of cells. A, diagram showing comparative size of 

 drone cells and worker cells. B, photograph of a 

 piece of honeycomb showing circular cells and 

 attachment cells. (From Root.) 



