The Life of the Individual 



103 



is slightly modified by changes in temperature of the hive, 

 it is, in the main, quite uniform and it is therefore possible 

 to give the time from egg-laying to emergence of the adult. 

 It must be understood that these vary somewhat and it is 

 rather remarkable that the variation is not more pronounced. 

 On account of the variation the various tables given for the 

 length of stages are not uniform. The following table (II) 

 is a fair average : 



Table II. Developmental Stages 



The figures given in this table for the pupal stage include 

 all the time that the developing bee is sealed up in the cell. 

 During part of this time, the larval stage is continued but 

 no additional food is taken. This is followed by a semi- 

 pupa stage, when the insect resembles a larva but has vmder- 

 gone a moult and the hind- and mid-intestine are connected. 

 The true pupa stage follows this and the transition to the 

 adult is gradual, the separation between the two stages being 

 marked by the emergence of the insect from the cell. The 

 number of moults in the larval stage are sometimes given 

 as probably six (Cheshire). This should be more carefully 

 studied. 



The structure of the adult bee will be briefly discussed 

 in conjunction with the functions of the various organs. 

 When the young bee emerges from the cell it is structurally 

 in the adult condition. It does not grow in size nor do any 

 marked changes in most of the organs occm- during adult 

 life. This is true of all insects. While certain internal 



