68 OUR INSECT FRIENDS AND FOES 



the labours of the workers, their sole duty in 

 life being to mate with the princesses, they are 

 now unproductive, and a useless burden on the 

 community. The workers drive them into a 

 corner of the hive, and keep them without food 

 until their powers of resistance are greatly 

 weakened; then they are ruthlessly dragged 

 forth from the hive, their wings nipped so that 

 they cannot fly back, and they are tilted off the 

 alighting-board of the hive on to the ground, 

 where they perish of cold and starvation, or are 

 eagerly devoured by the first insect-feeding bird 

 that detects them. Nor does this massacre stop 

 with the expulsion of the drones, for the super- 

 fluous eggs, infant larvae, and pupae are des- 

 troyed at the end of the season, so as to limit 

 the number of workers who, during the winter 

 months, will require food from the surplus 

 honey-store of the hive, which has been ac- 

 cumulated for use during the late autumn and 

 winter. 



Few people, I am afraid, have a kind word to 

 say for the wasps, although they are really 

 useful creatures, many of them destroying large 

 numbers of flies, caterpillars, and maggots ; for, 

 unfortunately, they are very nervous, hot- 

 tempered creatures, prepared to do battle and to 

 sting at but slight provocation, and this, coupled 

 with their love for ripening fruit, to which in 

 some seasons they cause considerable damage, 

 has given them a bad name. Nevertheless, by 

 preying upon other insects they do good service, 

 which should be placed to their credit, and if 

 treated gently and quietly, they will be quite 



