HIVE, OR HONEY, BEE 



be solved concerning Apis mellifica, it is because its 

 life-history and economy are of unparalleled complexity. 

 The colony consists of Queen (Female), Drone (Male), 

 and Worker (Imperfect Female), as shown in Figs. 44, 

 45, and 46. The Queen deposits her eggs in the honey- 

 comb, the egg being long and oval in shape. The grub, 

 as in the Wasp, is fed by the Worker- Bee with a tasty 

 sweetmeat-mixture of honey and pollen. Upon this, 

 supplied in profusion, the grubs fatten and wax ex- 

 ceedingly, changing their skins as occasion demands, 

 and becoming full-fed in about a week. The cell is 

 then sealed up with a porous cap capable of admitting 

 air, a cocoon is spun by the larva, or grub, and in due 

 course pupation takes place and eventually emergence 

 is signalled. The Queen may be known by her longer 

 body, the Drone by its stout body and large compound 

 eyes, and the Worker is the smallest of the three. The 

 last-named has pollen-baskets upon its legs, and these 

 will have been noticed laden with goods ready for de- 

 livery as the energetic little creature has been seen 

 making its sweet pillage among the flowers. Only the 

 Queen and Worker possess a sting. Flowers are visited 

 for pollen and nectar, and, according to those in season, 

 so are visits made to them. Much might be written 

 from this point of view, such as the attractive properties 

 of heather and lime flowers, of crocuses in early Spring, 

 of apple and other fruit blossom. The wax from which 

 the cells are so cleverly made is secreted by the Hive 

 Bee in a " pocket," situate on the under side of the 



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