3i8 INSECTS AND OTHER SMALL ANIMALS 



not need for its own sustenance is regurgitated into the 

 honey cells of the comb. 



The pollen and the propolis are collected in recep- 

 tacles on the outside of the hind legs. These pockets 

 are filled by a rapid movement of the mandibles and of 

 the other legs. The wax is an excretion from the body 

 which collects in little scales on the under side of the 

 abdomen. 



The work of the hive is nicely apportioned among 

 its inmates. Normally the egg laying is done by the 

 queen. All of the inside work, such as wax building, 

 care of the brood, and cleaning, is done by the younger 

 workers those less than seventeen days old. The 

 work of nectar and pollen gathering is performed by 

 the older workers. 



The general prime object of the beekeeper is to make 

 as large and as strong a colony of bees as possible for 

 each hive before the large supply of nectar is produced, 

 so that when the flowers are in full bloom a large amount 

 of honey may be obtained. It may be necessary to 

 feed the bees a sugar sirup so that a vigorous brood 

 may be raised early in the season. 



The life of the worker bee is usually not more than 

 eight months. Her active life wears out her wings 

 and makes it impossible for her to collect materials 

 for honey. The queen may live two to five years. 



In the north the hives should be well stored with 

 honey in the fall so as to furnish the bees with food for 

 the winter. At this time the hives are usually closed 

 and put in a dark cellar or other storage free from the 

 extremes of temperature. There the bees will live in a 

 quiescent state till the next spring. 



Besides the common black or brown bees we have 



