ORGANS AND PRODUCTS OF BEES. 25 



along the groove or canal formed by the junction of the sheath and the 

 darts. The sting being but an ovipositor modified to serve also another 

 purpose in addition to ovipositiou, in the perfect female (the queen) its 

 main use is in placing the eggs in their proper position in the bottoms 

 of the cells. 



Formic acid is known to have considerable antiseptic properties. 

 Chemical tests show its presence in well-ripened honey, but not in 

 freshly gathered nectar. The natural conclusion is that it has been 

 added by the bees to assist in the preservation of the honey. In what 

 manner it is supplied has frequently been questioned. Tests applied 

 to the blood of the bee show its presence there, and the secretions of 

 the head glands show still larger quantities. It is therefore reasonable 

 to suppose that these glands, as well as the poison glands themselves, 

 secrete formic acid, and that the honey receives its portion from the 

 former, the head glands, upon being disgorged from the honey-sac or 

 during the manipulation to which it is subjected in the hive. 



WATER. 



During cold or cool weather much condensation of moisture takes 

 place in wooden hives as these are usually arranged. The water, col- 

 lecting in drops on the interior walls of the hive and on the cold, sealed 

 houey^ often trickles down over the cluster of bees, to their great 

 injury. It has been claimed that when brood rearing begins this con- 

 densed moisture will be utilized in the preparation of brood food. 

 Very possibly it may, yet its use is probably detrimental, since it is 

 charged with waste products of the hive those of respiration, etc. In 

 its absence the water contained in the honey, if the latter has not gran- 

 ulated, seems to be sufficient. Later, however, when no condensation 

 takes place in the hive and the greater number of developing larvae 

 require considerable supplies of water in their food, special trips are 

 made to brooks and pools for it, and dew is often gathered from leaves. 



SILK. - 



The larval bee produces a small amount of silk from glands in its 

 head. The pupal cell is partially lined with this. Later, as the bee 

 develops, there being no further use for the glands, they become 

 atrophied. 



WAX. 



The light-colored pellets which are carried into the hive on the hind 

 legs of the workers, and which have been described as pollen, are often 

 mistaken for wax. The fact is, wax is not gathered in the form in 

 which we see it, except in rare instances, when, bits of comb having 

 been left about, small quantities will be loaded up and taken in as 

 pellets on the legs. Ordinarily it comes into the hive in the shape of 

 honey and is transformed by the workers within their own bodies into 

 wax. This production is wholly confined to the workers, for although 



