MAN'S WINGED ALLY, THE BUSY HONEYBEE 



415 



12 o'clock in the morn- 

 ing. Most of the bees 

 that have attained fly- 

 ing age (and this in- 

 cludes virtually all 

 the field bees) rush out 

 of the hive, tumbling 

 over one another in 

 their eagerness to taste 

 the thrills of the great 

 adventure. 



Back and forth in 

 front of the hive, in 

 sharp straight flights, 

 they take wing until 

 thousands are in the 

 air, the queen with 

 them. Likely as not, 

 this flying entangle- 

 ment will shortly move 

 toward some tree or 

 fence post. A few bees 

 settle, and then a few 

 more, until within 10 

 to 15 minutes all have 

 alighted in a tightly 

 packed mass. 



Shortly after the 

 swarm settles, scout 

 bees fly in all directions 

 to search for a new 

 abode, or, being fore- 

 minded, they may have 

 attended to this duty 

 several days before. 

 If a place already has 

 been located, the bees 

 may take to the air 

 again within a few min- 

 utes. Assuming a for- 

 mation that looks like 

 a hazy smoke ball 10 

 to 20 feet in diameter, 

 the swarm gradually works its way through 

 the tree tops and, clearing all obstructions, 

 seems to float like an enormous soap bubble, 

 making a "bee line" toward its new home. 



If the scouts fail to find a hollow tree or 

 a cozy nook in someone's attic, the bees 

 will continue to hang at their first stopping 

 place for several hours, or even for several 

 days. Should the scouts fail entirely in 

 finding habitable quarters, the bees may 

 decide to "camp out" and build their comb 

 in the open air. 



All the young bees, the brood, the honey, 

 and the combs, including interest and 

 good will, are left in the parent hive. 



Photograph by International News 



don't stroke this beard of bees! 



A Vincennes, Indiana, fancier handles his pets gently and says he has little 

 fear of stings. Apiarists are stung frequently, but some are less affected 

 by the poison than others (see text, page 405). Bees are most agreeable 

 about midday. Their anger rises quickly if the keeper blows his breath 

 across them, or squeezes them, or if they become entangled in his hair. 



Within a few days, a new queen issues from 

 the oldest of the queen cells. Apparently 

 aware that she is born to the royal purple, 

 she at once seeks to clear the hive of any 

 possible rivals. She makes a thorough 

 search for queen cells and mutilates each 

 by tearing a hole in its side. She may even 

 render the occupant hors de combat by giv- 

 ing her a fatal thrust with her sting. 



THE VIRGIN QUEEN PLANS HER WEDDING 



A few days after emergence the young 



virgin queen selects a day for her wedding 

 flight (see text, page 405). She usuafly 

 chooses a clear, warm, quiet day because 



