368 TEXT-BOOK OF ZOOLOGY 



is collected. When this sting enters the body of an animal, a drop of 

 poison is injected through the canal into the wound, where it produces 

 inflammation or, in the case of a small animal, even death. (Compare 

 with poisonous snakes.) Bee-keepers after a time become insensible to 

 the poison. The abdomen is connected with the thorax only by a thin 

 tube, and is therefore extremely movable, a circumstance which is of 

 great advantage in facilitating the free use of the sting. In the drones 

 the sting is absent. 



Allied Species. 



The nearest allies of the honey-bee, besides a large number of other 

 species of bee, are the Humble-Bees (Bombus). All these insects also 

 industriously visit flowers, and therefore in all essential points of structure 

 resemble the honey-bee. Their societies, however, endure for one 

 summer only, the queens existing through the winter asleep in some 

 retreat, whilst workers and males die in the autumn. 



Of the commoner species, we distinguish the Common Humble Bee 

 (B. terrestris), black, end of abdomen white, and with two yellow bands ; 

 the Garden-Bee (B. hortorurn), same colour as previous species, but 

 with three yellow bands ; and the Stone- Bee (B. lapidarius), black, with 

 the end of abdomen red-brown. All these build a structureless nest in 

 mouse-holes, stone heaps, etc. (hence the name). The smaller yellowish- 

 brown Moss- Bee (B. muscorum) builds its nest among moss. 



The Wasp (Vespa). 



The colonies of this insect, like those of the humble-bee, only persist 

 through a single summer, and are likewise founded by queens which 

 have survived through the winter. Their dwellings, on the other hand, 

 display considerable workmanship, being constructed of wood fibres 

 gnawed off and chewed up finely by the insects and mixed with saliva. 

 They are found in holes under the- ground, in hollow tree-trunks, 

 or suspended in the open from sheltered spots. They consist of 

 several horizontal combs, in many cases surrounded by an additional 

 protecting envelope, composed of several layers, and resembling blotting- 

 paper. For the performance of their labours wasps require powerful 

 mandibles. These also are necessitated by the nature of their food ; for 

 though they are fond of sucking the juices of ripe fruits or honey from 

 flowers (on account of the smoothness of their body they are of no 

 importance as plant fertilizers ; see bee), they are in the first degree 

 carnivorous animals. They seize their prey (bees, flies) on the wing, 

 sting it to death, and then consume it, or, after finely masticating it, 



