CHAPTER II 



NATURAL HISTORY 



A FAIR knowledge of the habits and natural history of 

 the bee is absolutely necessary to successful management. 

 During the summer months a colony of bees will be 

 found to consist of three kinds, viz. : — 



1. A Queen, 



2. Drones, 



3. Workers. 



The Queen. — The queen, only one of which is tolerated 

 in a colony, is distinguishable from the other inhabitants 

 of the hive by her greater size. The body is long and 

 tapering, and is only half covered by the wings. The 

 head is rounder than that of the worker, and the 

 abdomen somewhat lighter in colour. The sting is 

 curved, but is used only when in combat with a rival. 

 Consequently queens may be freely handled without fear 

 of consequent stings. Her legs are longer than those 

 of the worker bee, and as she gathers no pollen are 

 devoid of either brushes or baskets. Her special function 

 is to lay eggs from which are raised all the other inhabi- 

 tants of the hive. 



A really good queen will lay as many as three thousand 

 eggs per day of twenty-four hours, and it has been com- 

 puted that a queen will during her life-time lay eggs 

 equal to 1 10 times her own weight. 



A queen will usually live from four to five years, but 

 after her first complete season her powers will usually 



