BEE MANUAL. 73 



and sometimes more than a dozen. They are built to hang as 

 nearly vertical as possible, the broader end uppermost, and 

 gradually narrowing towards the point below. The queen lays 

 her egg in the cell when it is about half built ; after three days, 

 as in the case of workers and drones, the larva is hatched ; the 

 workers then feed the larva for five days with an abundance of 

 so-called " royal jelly," which appears to be much the same as 

 that fed to worker larvte, only perhaps more carefully prepared. 

 Mr. Root says on this point : — 



' ' It has also been said that the queens receive the very finest, most 

 perfectly digested, and concentrated food that they (the workers) can 

 prepare. This I can readily believe, for the royal jelly has a very rich 

 taste — something between cream, quince jelly, and honey, with a 

 slightly tart and rank, strong milky taste, that is quite sickening if 

 much of it be taken. I am inclined to think that the same food that 

 is given the young larvae at first will form royal jelly, if left exposed 

 to the air, as it is in the broad open queen cells." 



This food is deposited in a considerable quantity in the 

 queen cell before it is closed (see b in last figure). The queen 

 larva takes only one day to spin its cocoon, as it only covers 

 the upper half of the body. This fact was observed by Huber, 

 and commented upon in the following manner : — 



" The worms both of workers and males fabricate complete cocoons 

 in their cells ; that is, close at both ends and surrounding the whole 

 body. The royal larvae, on the other hand, spin imperfect cocoons, 

 open behind, and enveloping only the head, thorax, and first ring of 

 the abdomen. The discovery of this difference, which at first may 

 seem trifling, has been the source of extreme pleasure to me, for it 

 evidently demonstrates the admirable art with which nature connects 



the various characteristics of the industry of bees Of several 



royal nymphs in a hive, the first transformed attacks the rest, and 

 stings them to death " (by biting through the side of the cell, and 

 inserting her sting through the hole so made). " But were these 

 nymphs enveloped in a complete cocoon, she could not accomplish 

 this. Why ? Because the silk is of so close a texture, the sting 

 could not penetrate, or if it did, the barbs would be retained by 

 the meshes of the cocoon, and the queen, unable to retract it, would 

 become the victim of her own fury. Thus, that the queen might 

 destroy her rivals, it was necessary the last rings of the body 

 should remain uncovered ; therefore the royal nymphs must only 

 form imperfect cocoons. You will observe that the last rings alone 

 should be exposed, for a sting can penetrate no other part. The 

 head and thorax are protected by connected shelly plates, which it 

 cannot pierce. " 



