62 



HYMENOPTERA 



CHAP. 



von Ihering 1 says that all the essential elements of the sting 

 are present, the pointed or penetrating part of the apparatus 

 being stunted. 



It would serve no useful purpose to attempt to construct the 

 social history of these stingless bees from the numerous brief 

 scattered accounts in entomological literature, for they refer to 

 different species ; it is, however, positively stated by Smith on the 

 authority of Peckolt ~ that Trigona mosquito sends off swarms after 

 the manner of the hive-bee in this country, and that after search- 

 ing six hives only one royal female could be found in each. 



The nests of many of these little bees are rich in honey, and 

 they have a host of enemies from man and monkeys downwards ; 



and as they do not defend 

 themselves by stinging, it might 

 be supposed they would have 

 but a poor time of it. From 

 the accounts that have been 

 published we may, however, 

 gather that they are rich in 

 devices for the protection of 

 their nests, and for the exclu- 

 sion of intruders. Bates has 

 given some particulars as to 

 Melipona interrupta (fasci- 

 culatci) ; it is about one-third 

 shorter than the hive-bee, and its colonies are composed of an im- 

 mense number of individuals. The workers are usually occupied 

 in gathering pollen ; but they also collect clay in a similar manner, 

 and convey it to the nest, where it is used for building a wall to 

 complete the fortification of the nest, which is placed either in a 

 suitable bank, or in a trunk of a tree ; in either situation it is 

 completely built in with clay. A nest which Bates saw opened 

 contained about two quarts of pleasantly-tasted liquid honey. 

 Forty-five species of these little bees were found in different 

 parts of the Amazons Valley, the largest kind being half an inch 

 in length, the smallest very minute, not more than one-twelfth 

 of an inch. These little creatures are thus masons as well 

 as workers in wax and resin, and they are also gatherers of 

 nectar, pollen, and resin. 



1 Ent. Xucht: xii. 1886, p. 177. - Tr. cut. Soc. London, 1868, p. 133. 



FIG. 24. Melipona sp. ?. Amazons. 



