206 FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



different sorts, especially those in which the nectar is 

 deeply secreted, as they are able to reach such nectar by 

 means of their very long tongues. They go about from 

 day to day, performing for mankind a service of inesti- 

 mable value and deserving his support and protection. 



Toward the end of summer a brood of males and females, 

 or drones and queens, is developed. These come forth 

 late in summer or early in autumn, visiting flowers freely 

 along with the workers. All, however, except the queens, 

 perish when cold weather comes, and only such queens as 

 find adequate shelter are able to live through the winter to 

 begin again the cycle of the colony. 



HONEYBEES AND RELATED INSECTS 



There are many kinds of wild bees, besides the bumble- 

 bees, which are useful in the pollination of crops. In 

 many thickly settled communities, however, these are not 

 so important as are the familiar hive bees, which, from 

 the point of view of usefulness to man, have the great ad- 

 vantage that they can be introduced into cleanly cultivated 

 regions where there are comparatively few places for wild 

 bees to breed. In many greenhouses, hives of bees are 

 regularly kept to bring about the pollination of cucumber 

 crops, a process that formerly required much hand work on 

 the part of men. Outdoors in large orchards, such hives 

 seem almost as essential for insuring the cross-pollination 

 of the millions of flowers to be found upon the hundreds or 

 thousands of apple trees. These bees, of course, have the 

 additional advantage that they furnish honey to the owner. 



There are many other members of the order Hymenop- 

 tera, which may commonly be found upon the flowers of 

 plants, seeking nectar or pollen, or both. The wasps, 

 hornets, yellow jackets, sawflies, and ichneumon flies may 



