6 4 



ENTOMOLOGY 



82) the inner valves are united; in Apis the dorsal valves are^represented 

 by a pair of palpi, the inaer valves unite to form the sheath (Fig. 83, B) } 

 and the ventral two form the darts, each of which has ten barbed teeth 

 behind its apex, which tend to prevent the with- 

 drawal of the sting from a wound. The action of 

 the sting, as described by Cheshire, is rather com- 

 plex. Briefly, the sheath serves to open a wound 

 and to guide the darts; these strike in alternately, 

 4 NV ^ > ^~^ a interrupted at intervals by the deeper plunging of 

 FIG. 82. Cross-sec- the sheath (Fig. 83, A). The poison of the honey 



tion of the ovipositor of , , , ,-,, 



Sir ex. c, channel; d, bee is secreted by two glands, one acid and the 

 unittd rS inner V valves- *' otner alkaline. The former (Fig. 84) consists of a 

 v, ventral valves. After glandular region which secretes formic acid, of a 

 reservoir, and a duct that empties its contents into 

 the channel of the sheath. The alkaline gland also opens into the reser- 

 voir. It is said that both fluids are necessary for a deadly effect; and 

 that in insects which simply paralyze their 

 prey, as the solitary wasps, the alkaline 

 glands are functionless. 



FIG. 83. Sting of honey bee. A, i, 2, 3, posi- 

 tions in three successive thrusts; s, sheath. B, 

 cross-section; c, channel; i, united inner valves, 

 forming the sheath; v, v, ventral valves, or darts. 

 A, after CHESHIRE; B, after FENCER. 



FIG. 84. Sting and poison appara- 

 tus of honey bee. ag, accessory gland ; 

 p, palpus; pg, poison gland (formic 

 acid); r, reservoir; s, sting. After 

 KRAEPELIN. 



Male Genitalia. The penis may be hollow or else solid, and in the 

 latter case the contents of the ejaculatory duct are spread upon its 

 surface. Morphologically, the male gonapophyses correspond to those 

 of the female. The penis (Fig. 85) represents the two inner valves of 

 the ovipositor and is frequently enclosed by one or two pairs of valves. 



