APIAHI^E. 127 



Professor "Wyman noticed the transition made with only one 

 cell, as in Fig. 78, but not without destroying the regularity of 

 the two adjoining rows. 



u ln consequence of the gradual narrowing or widening of 

 the transition cells, the comb tends to become more or less tri- 

 angular and the cells to become disturbed. The bees counter- 

 act this tendency by the occasional intercalation of an additional 

 row, of which two instances are given in Fig. 78, at a and &, 

 where three rows of worker cells are continuous with two of 

 drone cells, c, d and e, /; or, reversing the statement, and 

 supposing the transition, as in the building of the comb, is 

 from worker to drone-cells, a row of the latter is from time to 

 time omitted as the rows a and b; in this way, the regularity of 

 the comb is preserved." 



Honey-cells are formed either by enlarging the ordinary 

 brood-cells, or adding them to others often larger, or by con- 

 structing a new comb, devoted entirely to the storing of honey. 

 "While the cells of this last are built unequivocally in accord- 

 ance with the hexagonal type, they exhibit a range of variation 

 from it which almost defies description." 



No Ichneumon-flies are known to attack the larva of the 

 Honey-bee, nor in fact, with few exceptions, any of the wild 

 bees, owing, probably, to the difficulty of their gaining access 

 to them, since Anomalon vesparum has been reared from the 

 cells of wasps which are more exposed than those of bees. 

 But the Honey, as well as the wild bees, are afflicted by a 

 peculiar assemblage of insect-parasites, some of which have 

 the most remarkable habits. The most formidable pest of the 

 Hive-bee is the Bee Fly, Phora incrassata, which in Europe 

 sometimes produces the well-known disease called " foul- 

 brood." The Bee-louse, Braula cceca, is, in Europe, sometimes 

 troublesome to the adult bee, while Trichodes apiarius, a beetle, 

 devours the larva*. The larvae of Meloe and Stylops are known 

 in Europe to infest the Honey-bee, and among the low intesti- 

 nal worms Assmusi enumerates Gordius subbifurcus which in- 

 fests the drones of the Honey-bee as well as other insects. 

 Professor Siebold has also described Mermis albicans, which 

 is a similar kind of hair-worm, from two to five inches long, 

 and whitish in color. This worm is also found, strangely 



