ANNULOSA I INSECTA. 223 



and carry three pairs of jointed walking legs. Besides these, 

 a variable number of the segments of the abdomen are pro- 

 vided with soft, fleshy legs, which are called * pro-legs.' 



Fig. 68. The Silk-moth (Bombyx mori), showing the three stages of imago, 

 pupa in" its cocoon, and larva. 



ORDER X. HYMENOPTERA. Wings four, membranous, with 

 few nervures ; sometimes absent. Mouth always provided with 

 biting jaws, or mandibles ; the maxillae and labium often con- 

 verted into a suctorial organ. Females having the extremity of 

 the abdomen mostly furnished with an ovipositor (terebra or 

 aculeus). 



The Hymenoptera form a very extensive order, comprising 

 the Bees, Wasps, Ants, Ichneumons, Saw-flies (fig. 69), &c. 

 The ovipositor, which is very generally present in the females 

 of this order, is sometimes a boring organ (t&rebra), or in other 

 cases a ' sting ' (jaouleus) . 



Amongst the Bymenopt&ra we find social communities, in 

 many respects resembling those of the Termites, of which a 

 description has already been given. The societies of Bees and 

 Ants are well known, and merit a short description. 



The social Bees, of which the common Honey-bee (Apis mel- 

 lifica), is so familiar an example, form organised communi- 

 nities, consisting of three classes of individuals the males, 

 females, and neuters. As a rule, each community consists of 

 a single female the 'queen,' and of the neuters, or 'workers.' 

 The impregnation of the female is effected by the production 

 of males, or ' drones,' during the summer. After impregna- 

 tion has been effected, the drones, as being then useless, are 



