HYMENOPTERA OR BEES, ANTS, WASPS, ETC. 



6l 



six-sided cells on either side of a central plate of wax. The 

 cells He nearly horizontal inclining usually slightly up- 

 ward. The whole arrangement of the cells is wonder- 

 fully adapted to afford the greatest amount of storage 

 space with the least amount of material; a problem which 

 the bees have solved as well as if they had a knowledge 

 of geometry. The cells constructed for rearing drones are 



- VUg 1 



PIG. 53. Comb showing eggs, larvae, pupae and queen cells. (After 



Benton.) 



somewhat larger than the usual ones, but of the same 

 shape; the queen cells, however, are much larger than the 

 others and hang down at right angles to the rest and are 

 usually roughened on the outer surface. Ordinary cells 

 are used either for storing food or raising bees. Some of 

 the cells are filled with a mixture of pollen and honey 

 commonly called "bee bread" which is used in feeding the 

 young larvae or grubs. 



