36 



OTHER COMMON INSECTS 



in case of the sudden death of the old one. These powers 

 are rightly intrusted to the workers — the great majority. 

 The eggs are placed by the queen in cells, and, after 

 hatching, are fed by the young workers, called nurses. 

 The larva is fairly bathed in food. In a few days the 



larva is full grown, and 

 then pupates. The 

 workers now cap over 

 the cell with wax, and 

 in about twenty-one days 

 the young bee cuts away 

 the cap and crawls out 

 — an adult provided with 

 four wings, mouth parts, 

 antennae, and the six legs 

 of the honeybee. 



Workers are provided 

 with the sting which is a 

 weapon of both defense 

 and offense. The queen 

 has a small sting, and 

 the drones have none. 

 When bees sting large 

 animals, like men, horses, 

 and dogs, their sting is 

 pulled out and with it 

 parts of the internal or- 

 gans, thus causing the death of the bee. When bees sting 

 other insects, or even one another, their sting is not lost. 



Sometimes swarms which have few bees and little honey 

 are attacked by bees from other colonies. It is a pitched 

 battle until the " robber bees " are beaten back, or the de- 

 fenders are themselves killed. The sting is used in these 

 battles. 



Figure 36. — Honey Bees Clustering 

 at Swarming Time. 



