Insect Study 449 



The Drone 



The drone differs much in shape from the queen and the worker. He 

 is broad and blunt, being very different in shape from the queen, and 

 larger than the worker, (p . 446 , Fig , 2 . ) He has no pollen baskets on his legs 

 and has no sting. His eyes are very much larger than those of the queen 

 or the worker and unite at the top of the head (p. 448, D.) His wings 

 are larger and stronger than those of the worker or queen. It is not his 

 business to go out and gather honey or to help in the work of the hive. 

 His tongue is not long enough to get honey from the flowers; he has no 

 pollen basket in which to carry pollen; he has no sting to fight enemies 

 and no pockets for secreting wax ; he is fed by his sister wo kers until the 

 latter part of the season when the honey supply runs low, and then he is 

 stung or bitten to death by these same sisters who have always given him 

 such good care. The drone should be called a prince or king, since his 

 particular office in the hive is to mate with the queen. 



References— Row to Keep Bees, Comstock ; The Bee People, Morley. 



LESSON CHI 

 The Honey-bee 



Leading thought — In a colony of honey-bees there are three different 

 forms of bees, the queens, the drones, and the workers. All of these 

 >have their own special work to do for the community. 



Method — In almost every country or village community there is an 

 apiary, or at least someone who keeps a few colonies of bees; to such the 

 teacher must turn for material for this lesson. If this is not practical the 

 teacher may purchase specimens from any bee dealer; she may, for in- 

 stance, get an untested queen with attendant workers in a queen cage sent 

 by mail for a small sum. These could be kept alive for some time by 

 feeding them with honey, during which time the pupils can study the 

 forms of the two castes. Any apiary during September will give enough 

 dead drones for a class to observe. Although ordinarily we do not advo- 

 cate the study of dead specimens, yet common sense surely has its place 

 in nature-study; and in the case of the honey-bee, a closer study of the 

 form of the insect is desirable than the living bee might see fit to permit. 

 There are no more wonderfvil instances of adaptation of form to life than 

 is found in the anatomy of the workers, queens and drones ; moreover, it 

 is highly desirable if the pupils are ever to become bee-keepers, that they 

 shall know these adaptations. 



A lens is almost necessary for these lessons and a compound microscope 

 used with a low power would be a very desirable adjunct. This lesson 

 should not be given below the fifth grade; and it is better adapted to 

 eighth grade work. 



The Worker 



Observations — i. How many divisions of the body are there? 

 What organs are borne on the head ? 



Are there small, simple eyes between the large compound ones? 

 What is the difference between the large eyes and the small? 

 Describe the antennae. 

 What can you see of the mouth? Describe it. 



