SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE STUDY OP INSECTS. 173 



On the under side of the bind body grooves between the 

 segments will be seen. In these grooves wax is formed in 

 thin plates. From these grooves the wax is removed and 

 cut by means of the pincer-like gap between the two broad 

 segments already referred to (Fig. 67 (a)). 



When the Bee finds the sugar it will commence to suck. 

 If the sugar is slightly moist, it will 

 be attacked with vigour, and then the 

 whole action of sucking will be seen 

 with great clearness. Pupils will also 

 see the remarkable length to which the 

 central portion of the complex mouth 

 apparatus may be extended, also its 

 hairy character, which greatly assists in 

 the gathering of honey (Fig. 68). 



The sting of the bee is situated at the 

 posterior tip of the body. Its point may 

 be seen protruded. A figure of the sting 

 with poison gland attached is given 

 (Fig. 69). Worker Bees are modified 

 females, and their sting consists of the 

 egg- depositing apparatus modified for 

 the purposes of defence. When the Bee 

 has been examined it should be liberated. 

 Although" the Bee may have been carried 

 some distance from the spot at which 

 it was captured it will be able to find 

 its way back to the hive. Eecent experi- 

 ments on the " homing " faculty of Bees seem to prove 

 that they possess a " sense of direction " more or less 

 comparable to that of Carrier Pigeons. 



The ftueen and Drones. 



We may now proceed to consider the* queen, who is the 

 mother of the colony. She is larger than the workers and 

 has a more slender body. The duration of life of a queen 

 is from two to three years. Her sole function in the hive 

 is that of egg-laying, which office she fulfils at the rate of 

 between two and three thousand in 24 hours. Her wants 



Fi 



69. Sting of 

 Bee, with poison 

 gland (dark body in 

 ligure) attached. 



