SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR THE STUDY OF INSECTS. 175 



a mixture of wax and pollen. The workers remove the wax 

 from their bodies by means of the nipping joint between 

 the shin and the first tarsal joint, and knead it into flat 

 plates about | inch in thickness, in which the hexagonal 

 " cells " are moulded upon both sides (Fig. 70). 



The workers, besides making cells, collect nectar and 

 pollen, with which they feed their queen and grubs. When 

 newly hatched they serve as nurses to the grubs for a time 

 before going outside the hive. A worker grub takes about 

 three weeks in which to hatch out. 



Eventually the hive becomes overcrowded and " swarm- 

 ing " becomes necessary. This may take place about the 

 end of May or the beginning of June. The first swarm is 

 headed by the old queen. The new queen then kills off the 

 other queens remaining within the hive. Should she be 

 prevented by the workers from so doing there may be a 

 second swarm. 



The colony persists through the winter. 



In the Hive Bee we see the highest stage of sociality 

 exhibited by Bees. The two most important features of 

 this society are the division of the labours of the colony 

 amongst queen, workers, and drones, and the provision 

 whereby the colony is continued from year to year. In 

 this latter feature especially the Hive Bees show an advance 

 upon the Humble Bees. 



