52 



THE ANATOMY OF THE HONEY BEE. 



The epipharynx of the bee is a large three-lobed appendage de- 

 pending from the roof of the preoral cavity just in front of the mouth 

 (fig. 19, Ephy). Seen from below it is triangular (fig. 17 A) with 

 the apex forward. Its median lobe has the form of a 

 fcJl fC^ I'^igh) vertical, keel-like plate, while the lateral lobes 

 are rounded but have prominent elevated edges con- 

 ^'e^ging toward the front of the keel. The appearance 

 in anterior view is shown by figure 17 B. Situated 

 on the posterior parts of the lateral lobes are a num- 

 ber of sense organs, each consisting of a small cone 

 with a pit in the summit bearing a small hair (fig. 18). 

 These are regarded as organs of taste. 

 Wolflf (1875) made a most thorough study of the epipharynx, 

 which he called the "palate sail" {Gaumensegel) on account of the 

 high median crest. His drawing is the standard illustration of the 

 organ found in nearly all books on the anatomy of the honey bee 



4^ 



V '-5., 



Fig. 18. — Sense 

 organs, prob- 

 ably of taste, 

 from e p i - 

 pharynx. 



Fig. 19.- 



-Median longitudinal section of head of worker, but with entire labium attached, 

 showing internal organs except muscles and brain. 



and in most works on general insect anatomy and the sense organs. 

 Wolff, however, regarded the sensory cones as having an olfactory 

 function, and this led him to erroneous conclusions regarding the 

 functions of several other organs. For example, he thought that 

 the mandibular glands poured a liquid upon the surface of the 



