446 



Handbook of N ature-Study 



basket are rows of spines which are used to remove the pollen from the 

 baskets (p. 447 . B , pc,) and between these two large segments are the pin- 

 cers for removing the wax (p. 447, B, wp.) 



The front pair of wings is larger than the hind pair. The wings of the 

 old bees that have done much work are always frayed at the edges. 



There are six segments or rings to the abdomen, plainly visible from 

 above. If the five segments next the thorax are marked above with yel- 

 low bands on their front edges, the bee is an Italian. On the lower side of 

 the abdomen, each segment is made up of a central plate with an over- 

 lapping plate on each side ; just at the front edge on each side of the cen- 

 tral plate is a wax pocket which cannot be seen unless the bee is dissected 

 under a microscope. From these pockets are secreted little flecks of wax 

 (p. 448,X.) 



The Queen 



The queen bee is a truly royal insect. She is much larger than the 

 worker, her body being long, pointed, and extending far beyond the tips of 



Fig.l 



Fig. 2 



Fig. 3 





■■S-:r^ 





I. Queen bee. 2. Drone. j. Worker; all enlarged. 



4. Queen cells. 



From How to Keep Bees — Comstock. 

 Drawn by A. J. Hammar. 



