BRITISH HIVE-BEE. 



333 



merely an individual, to survive, and must thus have greatly 

 assisted in the evolution of sociality. 



External features. The body shows the usual division into head, 

 thorax, and abdomen, and varies considerably in the three different 

 types, being smallest in the workers. It is entirely covered with hairs, 

 some of which are sensitive, while others are used in pollen-gathering, etc. 



The head bears antennae, 

 which are composed of a long 

 basal and numerous smaller 

 joints. They are marvellously 

 sensitive, serving to communi- 

 cate impressions, and also con- 

 taining organs of special sense. 

 A pair of compound eyes, largest 

 in the drones, and three median 

 ocelli, are also present in the 

 head region. Of the other 

 appendages of the head, the 

 mandibles are in the workers 

 very powerful, and used for 

 many purposes connected with 

 comb - building. In the first 

 maxillae the maxillary palps are 

 aborted, and the appendage con- 

 sists of an undivided lamina at 

 each side, borne on a basal, piece 

 consisting as usual of stipes 

 and cardo. The second pair of 

 maxillae form -as usual the labium 

 or so-called lower lip, and are 

 much modified. The united 

 basal joints form the mentum 

 and sub - mentum. From the 

 mentum at either side springs 

 the long labial palp, which re- 

 presents the outer fork of the 

 typical appendage. The endo- 

 podite at each side is divided 

 into two parts, but the inner two 

 (laciniae) are united, much elon- 

 gated, and form the tongue or 

 ligula of the bee. The outer 

 halves form the paraglossae, which are closely apposed to the base of 

 the ligula. It is the great elongation of the ligula and labial palps 

 which especially fits the bee for nectar-gathering. The three structures 

 can be closely apposed to one another, and then form an air-tight tube, 

 up which, by the action of the stomach, nectar is- sucked. In many 

 of our British bees the ligula is much shorter, and more or less trowel- 

 like in shape, and is then used largely, as in wasps, in the operation of 

 plastering the nest. In such cases the bee can only suck those flowers 



FiG. 178. Head and mouth parts 

 of bee. After Cheshire. 



a., Antenna; m., mandible;^., labrum or 

 epipharynx ; ntx.p.^ rudiment of maxil- 

 lary palp ; mx.y lamina of maxilla ; //>., 

 labial palp; /., ligula ; 3., bouton at end. 

 The paraglpssae lie concealed between the 

 basal portions of the labial palps and 

 the ligula. 



