14 THE BEE AS AN INSECT. [Ch. I. 



or seemed to care whether she fed or starved. But no 

 sooner did she become a mother than the scene was 

 changed," and all treated her with due attention. 



The sting of the queen bee is utilised in depositing 

 her eggs, and she does not use it for hostile purposes 

 except in combat with her sister queens. Mr. Lang- 

 stroth remarks that this forbearance apparently arises 

 from the knowledge that the use of the sting might prove 

 fatal to herself, and thus seriously jeopardise the whole 

 hive. He adds that she will carry it to the extent of 

 allowing herself to be torn limb from limb without an 

 attempt at stinging, though if closely held in the hand 

 she will sometimes use her jaws, which, being more 

 powerful than those of other bees, may occasion some 

 discomfort. But she admits of no rival to her throne ; 

 almost her first act, on coming forth from the cell, is an 

 attempt to tear open and destroy the cells containing the 

 pupse of princesses likely to become competitors. Should 

 it so happen that another queen of similar age does exist 

 in the hive at the same time, then, if one be not promptly 

 destroyed by the workers, as is now considered to be the 

 rule, the two are usually brought into contact with each 

 other, in order to fight it out, and decide by a struggle, 

 mortal to one of them, which is to be the ruler ; the 

 stronger of course is victorious, and remains supreme, 

 while her rival either falls dead or is left to die.* 



* Dr. Sevan mentions examples both of instant fatality and of 

 survival for twenty-four hours. The sting of the queen is evidently 

 less powerful than that of workers, as her poison-bag is smaller • 



