i 9 4 ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY AND ENTOMOLOGY 



to the hive, regurgitating it into the thirsty larval mouths. 

 For the filling in of crevices, the stopping up of holes, the fasten- 

 ing together of loose parts, etc., the bees use a substance 

 called propolis, which is made of the resinous exudations of 

 various plants. This propolis is collected and packed into 

 the pollen-baskets as pollen is and brought in by the foragers. 

 Some of our bees, needing propolis, discovered a house just in 

 course of painting, and made a gallant though hopeless struggle 

 to bring in all the fresh paint as fast as it was put on by the 

 painters! Propolis is not packed in cells, but is used as soon 

 as brought in, the trowel mandibles being the instruments 

 used in putting and moulding it in the needed place. 



Of the indoor work there is much besides those industries 

 already referred to, namely, wax-making, comb-building, honey- 

 making, crevice-chinking. Because the queen and nurses 

 (bees less than two weeks old) do not leave the hive, their 

 excreta are voided within doors; there are also bits of old, 

 dirty wax, occasional dead bees, and various other waste 

 substances constantly accumulating in the hive. Or, rather, 

 this detritus would accumulate if the workers were not always 

 keenly careful to carry out all such stuff; the hive is constantly 

 being cleaned, and is on any day in the week a model of good 

 housekeeping. 



Besides keeping the hive clean the workers must keep it 

 ventilated, that is, clean of atmosphere as well as clean of floor 

 and wall. This is done by setting up air-currents through the 

 hive which carry out constantly the vitiated air and thus com- 

 pel fresh air to enter. Always near the exit and scattered 

 through the hive, especially along its floor, may be seen bees 

 standing with head down and body diagonally up and wings 

 steadily vibrating with great rapidity. These are the ven- 

 tilating agents, and they have an exhausting and tedious 

 work. 



About the entrance may be also always seen bees which seem 

 neither to be leaving the hive nor entering it, but which move 

 about constantly and meet and touch antennae with all in- 

 comers. These are the warders of the gate. There are never 

 wanting enemies of the industrious, well-stocked honey-bee 



