DOMESTICATED INSECTS 



2 55 



" royal cells " are constructed at the edges of the combs as cir- 

 cumstances may require. These are somewhat acorn-shaped, with 

 downwardly-directed mouths, and a good deal larger than any 

 of the hexagonal cells. In them the young queens are reared. 

 The workers that produce the wax for comb-construction hang 

 suspended in dense clusters 

 for many hours, until eight 

 little scales of wax have been %iiiiiiH 



secreted on the under side 

 of each of them. They 

 then successively visit the 

 highest part of the hive, and 



Fig. 1186. Extended Mouth-parts of a Worker 

 Bee, seen from above, with the different regions 

 separated, enlarged. The long " tongue" is seen in 

 the centre, and the second jaws (ist maxillae) below. 



Fig. 1187. Honey -Comb. A, Small cells in section. B, 

 Ditto in surface view, c, Comb with brood, on left develop- 

 ment of a worker; egg (e), larvae (/), pupa (P} t imago (zf); on 

 right are seen royal cells (r.c.}, the middle one unopened. 



work the scales into a lenticular mass. The hind-legs are used 

 for detaching the scales, and the jaws for kneading them. Other 

 workers excavate areas corresponding to the cells, building up 

 the walls of these from the wax scooped out, and as the work 

 proceeds the two sides of the comb are simultaneously operated 

 on by two gangs of labourers. At the same time fresh wax is 

 added as required to the edges of the growing comb. 



