62 OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



tropical forests, and by the enormous amount 

 of earth which they bring up from considerable 

 depths and employ in the construction of the 

 covered ways, they carry on in the tropics that 

 process of earth turning and the formation of 

 vegetable mould, which is carried out by the 

 earthworms in temperate and moister climates. 



The Bees, on account of the very important 

 part which they play in connexion with the fer- 

 tilization of flowers, and also from their honey- 

 storing habits, are insects of the greatest value 

 and assistance to man. 



A community of Bees is quite as wonderful 

 and interesting as a community of Ants, and, like 

 the latter, is composed of various types of in- 

 dividuals who perform certain work in connection 

 with the general upkeep and welfare of the hive ; 

 the three types of individuals being the very 

 numerous workers, who are all neuters or sterile 

 females, and who are present in the hive all the 

 year round; the limited number of males, or 

 drones, as they are called, who are only present 

 in the late spring and summer; and the one 

 queen-mother, or the fully developed female, 

 who is always present. 



If we examine a bee-hive very early in the 

 spring, we shall only find a queen-mother and 

 a fairly numerous company of workers, who are 

 rather lethargic. Directly the sun begins to 

 shine with increasing warmth, however, there is 

 an awakening and general movement in the hive, 

 and the workers come forth on sunny mornings, 

 visit the first flowers of the year, and return 

 carrying fresh supplies of nectar and pollen. 



