THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



253 



NEW OBSERVATIONS ON 



THE NATURAL HISTORY 



OF BEES. 



Bv Francis Huber. 



(Continued from p. 229, Vol. III.) 



The sequel of our experiments, 

 made with every possible precaution, 

 appears demonstrative, the uniform 

 sterility of queens in hives wanting 

 males, and in those where they are 

 confined along with them, the depart- 

 ure of these queens from the hives, 

 and the very conspicuous evidence 

 of impregnation, with which they re- 

 turn, are proofs against which no ob- 

 jections can stand ; but we do not 

 despair of being able next spring to 

 obtain the complement of this proof, 

 by seizing the female at the very 

 moment of her union. 



Naturalists always have been ex- 

 tremely embarrassed to account for 

 the numbers of males in most hives, 

 and which seem only a burden to the 

 community since they fulfil no func- 

 tion, but we now begin to discern 

 the object of nature in multiplying 

 them to sucli an extent, as fecunda- 

 tion cannot be accomplished within ; 

 and as the queen is obliged to trav- 

 erse the expanse of the atmosphere, 

 it is requisite the males should be 

 numerous, that she may have the 

 chance of meeting some one of them. 

 Were only two or three in each hive 

 there would be little probability of 

 their departure at the same instant 

 with their queen, or that they would 

 meet in their excursions, and most of 

 the females would thus remain sterile.-^ 



But why has nature prohibited 



1 RemiU'kable irregularity subsists in tlie 

 number ofmales, comiiared witli tlie other in- 

 habitants of a hive. .Swaninienlam found 69:{ 

 along with 8494 workers. Previous to tlie 

 swarming of a large liive Reaumur counted 

 700 among 26,416 common bees, and one queen. 

 In another containing only 2900 worker--, lie 

 found 693 males. He comijuted 50.000 cells in 

 the former, of which 20.000 were lull of brood. 

 About 2.520 cells were aiipropriated for breed- 

 ing males, and about half ol tliem were occu- 

 pied by larvfe and nymphs. Thus, including 

 the 700 in the perfect i-late he observes, that 

 this hive would be provided with about 2000 

 males. 



sexual union within the hives ? This 

 is a secret still unknown to us. It is 

 possible, however, that some favor- 

 able circumstance may enable us to 

 penetrate it in the course of our ob- 

 servations. Various conjectures may 

 be formed : but at this day we require 

 facts, and reject gratuitous supposi- 

 tions. It should be remembered, 

 that bees do not form the sole repub- 

 lic among insects presenting a similar 

 phenomenon ; female ants are also 

 obliged to leave the ant-hills previous 

 to fecundation.- 



1 cannot request, sir, that you will 

 communicate those reflections which 

 your genius will excite concerning 

 the facts I have related. 



This is a favor to which I am not 

 yet entitled. But as new experiments 

 unquestionably will occur to you, 

 whether on the impregnation of the 

 queen or on other points, may I so- 

 licit you to suggest them ? They 

 shall be executed with all possible 

 care, and I shall esteem this mark of 

 friendship and interest as tlie most 

 flattering encouragement that the 

 continuance of my labors can receive. 

 Pregny, August ij, ijSg. 



You have surprised me most agree- 

 ably, sir, with your interesting dis- 

 covery of the impregnation of the 

 queen bee. It was a fortunate con- 

 jecture that she left the hive to be 

 fecundated ; and your method of 

 ascertaining the fact was extremely 

 judicious and well adapted to the 

 object. Let me remind you, that 

 male and female ants unite in the 

 air ; and that after impregnation the 

 females return to the anthills to de- 

 posit their eggs. It would be nec- 

 essary to seize the instant when the 

 drone unites with the female. But 

 how remote" from the power of the 

 observer are the means of ascertain- 

 ing their commerce in the air. 



2 The males and females of ants are winged 

 insects ; the former pei ish sometime alter their 

 amours, and the females lose their wings a 

 certain period after iinprej^nation. 



\To be continued7\ 



