THE DRONE. 83 



The Drones. 



185. The drones are the male bees. They are much 

 larger and stouter than either the queen or workers; although 

 their bodies are not quite so long 

 as that of the queen. They have 

 no sting (78) with which to de- 

 fend themselves, and no suitable 

 proboscis (48) for gathering 

 honey from the flowers, no baskets 

 on their thighs (59) for holding 

 bee-bread, and no pouches (301) '^' 



on their abdomens for secreting wax. They are, therefore, 

 physically disqualified for the ordinary work of the hive. Their 

 proper oflSce is to impregnate the young queens. 



"Their short proboscis sips 

 No luscious nectar from the wild thyme's lips. 

 From the lime's leaf no amber drops they steal. 

 Nor bear their grooveless thighs the foodful meal: 

 On other's toils in pamper 'd leisure thrive 

 The lazy fathers of the industrious hive." 



— Evans. 



186. The drones begin to make their appearance in April 

 or May; earlier or later, according to the forwardness of 

 the season, and the strength of the colony. Like the other 

 inhabitants of the hive they cannot perform the work for 

 which they are intended, till at least one week old. They 

 go out of the hives only when the weather is warm, and at 

 mid-day. 



187. As we have seen (122), the mating of the queen 

 with a drone always takes place in the air. Physiologists 

 say that it cannot be otherwise, because the sexual organs 

 of the drone cannot be extruded unless his abdomen is swelled 

 by the filling of all the traehese with air. This happens only 

 in swift flight C^^). 



