BllEEUINO. 



117 



is to introduce a young fertile queen (295). But, if a fertile 

 queen cannot be procured, the colony may be united to another, 

 or may be broken up, and divided among other stocks having 

 fertile queens. 



202. Stimulating in Autumn The bee-keeper, knowing that 



the success of the colony in the ensuing year will depend 

 largely upon its going into winter quarters with a large supply 

 of young bees, begins to stimulate again by supplying warm 

 syrup, a little each evening, from the termination of the honey 

 flow until about the middle of September (314). In this way 

 queen and bees are induced to keep up the numbers of the 

 colony, and the danger of a scarcity of food is lessened. 



203. Breeding Ceases — When, with advancing autumn, the 

 flow of nectar diminishes, the drones are destroyed (24); the 

 daily deposit of eggs by the queen lessens (25), occupies fewer 

 combs, and smaller circles, as the cluster of bees draws towards 

 the centre of the hive ; and finally, in November, or earlier if 

 the season prove very inclement, it ceases altogether. In very 

 mild seasons, and in a hive well supplied with stores, the 

 queen will sometimes continue to lay well into December. 



204. Metamorphosis of Bees. — The following data are sup- 

 ported by common experience of the metamorphosis, etc., of 

 bees. But it must be understood that the figures and the 

 dates given are only approximate, and are variable according 

 to the strength of the colony, the heat of the hive, and the 

 condition of the weather : 



TIME OCCUPIED FROM THE LAYING OF THE EGG. 



Incubation of the egg 

 Feeding of the larva 



Cell sealed on the 

 Spinning cocoon 

 Interval of inaction ... 

 Change from larva to nymph 

 ,, from nymph to exit as perfect insect 



Bee evacuates the cell on the 

 Interval spent chiefly in the hive 



Bee flies freely from the hive on the ... 

 Interval between issue of top Swarm and issue of Ist Cast 

 ^, „ Ist Cast and 2nd Cast ... 



„ 2nd, 3rd and 4th Casts ... 



9 Days. 

 2 .. 

 1 Day. 



