THE BUMBLEBEE. 69 



The fourth stage is the imago, the adult bumblebee. 



Select one of the largest larvae for comparison with an 

 imago. Note their resemblances and their differences in 

 structure. 



Open a number of the cells, and examine the pupse con- 

 tained in them. Observe the gradual evolution of the 

 perfected organs of the imago. Since the adult partakes 

 only of soft food, what use has it for horny, biting man- 

 dibles? 



Make a series of drawings showing the life history of 

 the bumblebee. 1 



Compare the transformations of the bumblebee with 

 those of other insects studied. When, as with the bumble- 

 bee, there are four stages, egg, larva, pupa, and imago, 

 the metamorphosis is said to be complete. When, as with 

 the grasshopper, there are but three distinct stages, egg, 

 nymph, and the perfect insect, with no pupal or resting 

 stage and with greater likeness to the adult in the second 

 stage, the metamorphosis is said to be incomplete. 



The History of a Colony of bumblebees, that is, of a 

 single nest and its occupants, is about as follows: In the 

 spring each colony is founded by one of the adult females 

 (or queens) which alone survive the winter. Such may 

 be seen in spring, searching the meadows over for a place 

 to establish a nest. When proper food flowers open, each 

 bumblebee takes possession of a suitable bunch of dried 

 grass, or preferably of an old mouse nest, and carries into 

 it pollen and honey, and deposits beside the food a few 

 eggs. All the work of providing food and shelter, and of 

 caring for this first brood, is done by the queen. The 

 bees of this first brood are workers, and as soon as they 

 come forth from their pupal cells they assume most of the 



1 In its preparatory stages, the insect is best preserved in alcohol. Eor 

 a suggestion as to the use of alcohol, see Appendix, p. 277. 



