88 MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 



drone brood is easily distinguished from worker, and from the 

 darker color — the wax being thicker and less pure — the cap- 

 ping of both drone and worker brood-cells enable us easily to 

 distinguish them from honey-cells. In twenty-four days from 

 the laying of the egg, the drones come forth from the cells. 

 Of course variation of temperature, and other conditions, as 

 variable amount of diet, may slightly retard or advance the 

 development of any brood, in the different stages. The 

 drones — in fact all bees — when they first emerge from the 

 cells, are gray, soft, and appear generally unsophisticated. 



Just what the longevity of the male bee is, I am unable to 

 state. It is probable, judging from analogy, that they live 

 till accident, the worker bees, or the performance of their 

 natural function causes their death. The worker-bees are 

 liable to kill off the drones, which they do by constantly biting 

 and worrying them. They may also destroy the drone-brood. 

 It is not very rare to see workers carrying out immature 

 drones even in mid-summer. At the same time, too, they 

 may destroy inchoate queens. Such action is prompted by a 

 sudden check in the yield of honey, and with the drones is 

 most common at the close of the season. The bees seem 

 very cautious and far-sighted. If the signs of the times 

 presage a famine, they stay all proceedings looking to the 

 increase of colonies. On the other hand, unlimited honey, 

 rapid increase of brood, crowded quarters — whatever the age 

 of the queen — is sure to bring many of the male bees. While 

 any circumstances that indicate a future need of drones will 

 prevent their destruction even in late autumn. 



The function of the drones is solely to iiiipregnate the 

 queen, though when present they may add animal heat. 

 That their nutrition is active, is suggested by the fact, that 

 upon dissection, we always find their capacious 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 warm sunshiny days. After mating, the drone organs 

 adhere to the queen, and may be seen hanging to her for some 

 hours. The copulatory act is fatal to the drones. By hold- 

 ing a drone in the hand, the ejection of the sex-organs is often 

 produced, and always followed by immediate death. As the 



