23 
cipal divisions well marked. They are very active 
and energetic, and generally live in large communities, 
consisting of males, females, and neuters, or imper- 
fectly-developed females. The neuters are always 
wingless and perform the work of the nest, and the 
males and females ecnly retain their wings for a short 
time. They secrete a substance called formic acid, 
which serves them for purposes of defence. They 
are omnivorous, feeding on all kinds of animal and 
vegetable substances, and especially on the sweet 
substance called honey-dew, which is produced by 
Aphides. The so-called ‘‘ant’s- 
eggs’? used as food for birds, a 
are the pup. In cold coun- 
tries ants hibernate, but in 
warmer climates many species 
lay up large stores of seeds or 
leaves in their nests. ‘ 
One of the largest Euro- » 
pean ants is Camponotus her- 
culeanus, which is common on 
the Continent, especially in hilly 
districts, where it makes its 
nests under old trees (a worker, 
6 male, c female). 
Fig. 0. formica rufa. 
The Wood Ant makes large 
mound-like nests in woods, 
especially in fir-woods, and 
destroys large numbers of 
other insects. 
Family X. The Vespide, or Wasps, are sting- 
ing insects, in which the fore wings are longitudinally 
folded when at rest, giving then the appearance of 
being narrower than they really are. They have a 
broad head, short antenna, and strong jaws. During 
summer, they live in nests constructed of a paper- 
like fabric formed of comminuted wood, where they 
rear their larve, which they feed with honey or 
dead insects. They also feed on juicy fruit. The 
males, females and neuters are all winged. 
Fig. p. Odynerus parietum is black, with two 
yellowish red spots on the thorax, and four yellow 
stripes on the abdomen. It lays its eggs in a tube 
formed of earth and sand. 
Fig. q. Vespa vulgaris, the common wasp, 
forms its nest in the ground, and less frequently, 
in trees. Most of the wasps perish in autumn, but a 
few females survive the winter, and found new colonies. 
Fig. r. Vespa crabro. The Hornet builds its 
nests in trees or under rafters. It is larger than the 
other European wasps, but lives in smaller communities. 
Family XI. Apidae. The bees may generally 
be recognised by their stout compact hairy bodies. 
They have short, strong legs, short antenne, and 
moderately long wings. They live on the honey of 
flowers, which some of them store in their nests. 
They live singly or in communities, and the intelli- 
gence of the social bees is not greatly inferior to 
that of the ants. Their sting is painful, like that 
of the ants and wasps. 
Fig. s. Apis mellifica. The Honey Bee has 
the first joint of the hind tarsi shovel-shaped, and 
furnished with a brush. This 
apparatus enables it to collect the 
pollen of flowers. It also collects 
the honey with its broad tongue, 
and on reaching the hive, dis- 
gorges it into the waxen cells pre- 
pared for its reception. Bees are 


Drone, 
reared in all parts of the world for the sake of their 



wax and honey, in receptacles called hives, where 
they build their nests. Each hive contains from 
12,000 to 30,000 bees. The nests consist of cells 
of wax, placed close together, and are divided into 
layers with passages between. These 
cells serve as nurseries for the young 
brood, and as receptacles for the 
honey. There is only one egg-laying 
female in each hive, which is called 
the queen. There are a few hundred 
males, or drones, which idle away 
the summer, but are all killed by the workers on 
the approach of winter. It is the workers which 
not only collect pollen, wax and honey, but also 
feed the larvee and the queen. If the queen is lost, 
the whole hive is liable to perish. Every year. 
several queens are produced, when \ 
they fight until one is killed. At 
other times, one of them leads a 
colony from the hive, and establishes 
herself elsewhere; and this is called 
swarming. In the winter the bees 
cease their work, and feed on their stores, close 
the hive except a small opening, and do not reap- 
pear till spring. 

Queen bee. 

Worker, 
The genus Lombus contains the Humble Bees, 
which are larger than the Hive Bees. They live in 
small communities, forming their nests in holes in 
the ground. There are large and small females, 
large workers, and small males among them. They 
collect honey and pollen, and work like bees. In 
autumn, they all die, except some of the large fe- 
males, which found next years’ colonies. 
Fig t. Lombus lapidarius is a black species, 
with the extremity of the body red. 

is one of the commonest 
It is banded with black and yellow, 
The parent 
bee chooses a hole in the ground, perhaps that of 
a field-mouse, and hollows out a cavity where it 
forms cells in which it lays eggs which produce 
Bombus terrestris 
Humble Bees. 
and the tip of the abdomen is whitish. 
white maggots. These are fed by the mother with 
clear honey, and after passing through the pupa state, 
emerge as small females, and take their share in the 
work of the nest. 
