AUSTRALIAN BEES 6 



when once they obtain hold. They continue to penetrate 

 the flesh and inject poison (formic acid from a small 

 gland at the base of the sting), until progress is stayed 

 by a feathery bunch of extremely small muscles that 

 furnish the motive power for this microscopical specimen 

 of mechanical movement. 



Should a feeling of inquiry impel the reader of the 

 foregoing to desire a closer intimacy with the anatomical 

 construction of man's greatest insect friend, there are 

 a number of works dealing with the subject in a scientific 

 manner. However, it is not proposed to invoke a 

 multitude of Latin and Greek terms to assist in recording 

 a mass of scientific and microscopical minutite. 



The wonderfully formed systems that enable the bee 

 to obtain air are situated along the sides of the body, 

 and are known as spiracles — tiny apertures leading to 

 internal tubes of which the worker-bee has fourteen. 

 These spiracles are connected with a series of ' ' air sacs. ' ' 

 Most insects that fly are provided with these trachece, 

 for they are of great assistance to the insect's aerial 

 abilities. For instance, when a hive is suddenly opened, 

 the bees are unable to fly for a second or two until the 

 air sacs are inflated. The spiracles are internally fitted 

 with "spiral springs" that prevent them closing when 

 the body is bent or doubled up. Those of the drone 

 are fitted with a special curtain-like attachment that 

 exaggerates the sound of the insect's flight, thus causing 

 the distinctive sound always associated with the flight 

 of the male bee. Observant apiarists will recall many 

 instances of honey-bees drowning with the head well 

 above water. The submerged spiracles are thus cut off 

 from air and the insect is suffocated. The apiarist 

 should never daub bees with any liquid in such quantity 

 that they are unable to free the spiracles: this is the chief 

 reason why a swarm will not stay in a hive when 

 furnished with wet extracting combs. Bees in a swarm 

 are fully provisioned, and quite unable to clean up a 

 further supply when it is stuck over their bodies. 



