io6 Function of Drones. 



The function of the drones is solely to impregnate the 

 qiieen, though when present they add to the heat of the 

 hive. Yet for this they were far better replaced by worker 

 bees. That their nutrition is active, is suggested by the 

 fact that, upon dissection, we usually find their capacious 

 honey-stomachs filled with honey. 



Impregnation of the queen always takes place, as before 

 stated, while on the wing, outside the hive, usually during 

 the heat of a warm, sunshiny day. After mating, as before 

 suggested, the drone organs adhere to the queen, and may 

 be seen hanging to her for some hours. The copulatorv 

 act is fatal to the drone. By holding a drone just returned 

 from a long flight in the hand, the ejection of the sex-organs 

 is often produced and is always followed by immediate 

 death. As the i[ueen only meets a single drone, and that 

 only once, it might be asked why nature was so improvident 

 as to decree hundreds of drones to an apiary or colony, 

 whereas a score would suffice as well. Nature takes cog- 

 nizance of the importance of the queen, and as she goes 

 forth amidst the myriad dangers of the outer world, it is 

 safest and best that her stay abroad be not protracted, that 

 the experience be not repeated, and, especially, that her 

 meeting a drone be not delayed. Hence the super-abun- 

 dance of drones — especially under natural conditions, isola- 

 ted in forest homes, where ravenous birds are ever on the 

 alert for insect game — is most wise and provident. Nature 

 is never "penny wise and pound foolish." In our apiaries 

 the need is wanting, and the condition, as it exists in nature, 

 is not enforced. Again, close impregnation or in-breeding, 

 which is not conducive to animal vigor is thus prevented, 

 where otherwise it would be necessary and always the 

 practice. The Rev. Mahin thinks that mating is accom- 

 plished at long distances from the hives, and that drones 

 gather in certain places as do male bumble-bees, there to 

 await the coming queen. 



The fact that parthenogenesis prevails in the production 

 of drones, has led to the theory that from a pure queen, 

 however mated, must ever come a pure drone. My own 

 experience and observation, which have been very extended 

 and under circumstances most favorable for a correct judge- 



