1 66 FLASHLIGHTS ON NATURE 



produces only drones or males. We cannot 

 resist the inference that the male is here the in- 

 ferior creature. These facts, I regret to say, are 

 also not without parallels elsewhere. Among bees, 

 for instance, the eggs laid by very old, decrepit 

 queens, or by maimed and crippled queens, pro- 

 duce males only ; while among tadpoles, if well 

 fed, the majority become female frogs ; but if 

 starved, they become preponderantly male. So, 

 too, starved caterpillars produce only male butter- 

 flies, while the well-fed produce females. I know 

 this is the opposite of what most people ima- 

 gine ; but then, science not infrequently finds 

 itself compelled to differ in opinion from most 

 people. 



The drones, or males, are thus of as little account 

 in the nest of wasps as in the hive of bees. In 

 both, they only appear for a short time, and for 

 the definite purpose of becoming fathers to the 

 future generations. When they have fulfilled this 

 their solitary function, the hive, or the nest, cares 

 no more about them. The bees, as you know, 

 have a prudent and economical habit of stinging 

 them to death, so as not to waste good honey 

 on useless mouths through the winter. The wasps 

 act otherwise. They are not going to live through 

 the winter themselves, so they don't take the trouble 

 to execute their brothers : they merely turn the 

 young queens and males loose, and then leave the 

 successful suitors to be killed by the first frost 

 without further consideration. 



And now comes the most curious part of all 



