HONEY BEE. 



APIS MELLIFICA. 



THE honey bee belongs to the class Insecta and, there- 

 fore, has certain characteristics in common with the grass- 

 hopper and other insects. For example, there is the same 

 division into head, thorax and abdomen; a subdivision of 

 thorax and abdomen into segments; and a similar number 

 and disposition of antennae, eyes, legs and wings. The 

 grasshopper, however, is a relatively simple insect, w T hile 

 the bee is one of the most complex. The bee is of interest 

 from its habit of community or social life, with different 

 castes or classes in the community. It is also of interest 

 in its highly specialized and adapted organs, as compared 

 with the more simple ones of the grasshopper. 



External Anatomy. 



1. General Characters. Notice the division of the body 

 into regions, and compare with the grasshopper. Especially 

 note the covering of hairs over the body, is this present in 

 all parts or is it limited in distribution? Remove some 

 of the hairs, place on a slide and examine with the com- 

 pound microscope. The longer hairs of the body differ 

 in what way from the shorter hairs of the appendages? 



2. Head. Is the head freely movable? Is it more or 

 less so than in the grasshopper? The compound eyes are 

 quite similar to those of the grasshopper, but observe the 

 short spine-like hairs on their surface. Compare the com- 



