368 



INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY 



and also the effects of the sting on the victim are more severe. 

 The possession of a sting is confined to the queen, and worker 



In all cases of stinging Hymenoptera {Aculeata), the 

 sting seems to be developed from the same structures as the 

 ovipositor, which is conspicuous in the non-aculeate forms. 



The worker bee seems to be an imperfectly developed 

 female ; occasionally she will lay eggs, and these, though 



Fig. 293. — The Sting of a Honey Bee removed from the hody. 



d, Darts or lancets ; d\ tip of dart enlarged ; g, guide or director ; £/',* tip of guide 

 enlarged ; p, palp ; pg, beginning of poison- gland ; ps, poison-sac ; fd, poison- 

 duct ; V, valve. 



never fertilised by a drone, will develop into new drone 

 bees ; such parthenogenetic eggs are fairly common amongst 

 the Hymenoptera. 



The males or drones are larger and broader 

 DroiTes.'^ in build than worker or queen, and have bigger 

 wings. Their eyes also are relatively larger, 

 meeting on the top of the head (Fig. 287). They do 

 none of the ordinary work of the hive, neither collecting 

 pollen or honey, nor caring for the young, and they are there- 

 fore without some of the special structures possessed by 

 the worker, having no "pollen-baskets," only a short and 

 weak proboscis, and no sting. The queen a,l§o lacks pollen- 

 baskets and the long proboscis. 



