8a Three Kinds of Bees in Each Colony. 



ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE 

 HONEY-BEE. 



With a knowledge of the anatomy and some glimpses 

 of the physiology of insects in general, we shall now find 

 it easy to learn the special anatomy and physiology of the 

 highest insects of the order. 



THREE KINDS OF BEES IN EACH FAMILY. 



As we have already seen, a very remarkable feature in 

 the economy of the honey-bee, described even by Aristotle, 

 which is true of some other bees, and of ants, is the presence 

 in each family of three distinct kinds, which differ in form, 

 color, structure, size, habits and function. Thus we have 

 the queen (Lubbock has shown that there are several 

 queens in an ant colony), a number of drones, and a far 

 greater number of workers. Huber, Bevan, Munn, and 

 Kirby also speak of a fourth kind, blacker than the usual 

 workers. These are accidental, and are, as conclusively 

 shown by Von Berlepsch, ordinary workers, more deeply 

 colored by age, loss of hair, dampness, or some other atmos- 

 pheric condition. American apiarists are too familiar with 

 these black bees, for after our severe winters, they prevail 

 in the colony, and, as remarked by the noted Baron, "They 

 quickly disappear." Munn also tells of a fifth kind, with 

 a top-knot, which appears at swarming seasons. I am at a 

 great loss to know what he refers to, unless it be the pollen 

 masses of the asclepias, or milk-weed, which sometimes 

 fasten to our bees and become a severe burden. 



THE QUEEN BEE 



The queen (Fig. 25) although referred to as the mother 

 bee, was called the king by Virgil, Pliny, and by writers 

 as late as the last century, though in the "Ancient Bee 

 Master's Farewell," by John Keys, published in London in 

 1796, I find an admirable description of the queen bee, 

 with her function correctly stated. Reaumur, as quoted 

 in "Wildman on Bees," published in London in 1770, says 

 "this third sort has a grave and sedate walk, is armed with 

 a sting, and is mother of all the others." 



