194 (iTHiai MI'IMBEKS oK Till'; CLASS — JXiSECTA 



oblong picci's iVoni I'ose leaves and huilds ;i short tube at the 

 bottom of the tunnel. 'Die bee tlien tills the tube partly 

 full of a pasty mass of nectar and pollen and lays an egg 

 on top. After the egg is laid, the bee cuts circular pieces 



Irom the rose leaves 

 which are a little larger 

 than the diameter of the 

 tube, and pushes them 

 into the mouth of the 

 tulie, completely stop- 

 ping it. In tills way the 

 tube is filled with short 

 cylindrical ec^lls, each 

 containing an egg (Fig. 

 f4fV 



Adaptations of insects 

 to their environments. 

 — Perhaps among no 

 othei' group of animals 

 can there be found so 

 many and so varied 

 adaptations to meet the 



Fig. 140.-Leaf-cutt,.r bee an.l rose leaf KUlTOUnding conditions 



'lit ''.V it- as among the insects. 



Dragon flies live mainly on mosquitoes, gnats, and other 

 small insects caught in the air wliile on the wing. The 

 long, strong wings of the di'agon Hies and the large eyes 

 with which they can see on all sides are distinct athxptations 

 for catching these insects. The nymphs of the dragon 

 flies live in the water and are furnished with gills to adapt 

 them to such a life. 



The bee's hind legs are furnished with thick i-ovvs of long 



