36 The Italian Race. 



in 1848, which was read by Dzierzon, who became interested, 

 and through him the Italian became generally introduced into 

 Germany. In 1859, six years after Dzierzon's first importa- 

 tion, the Italian variety was introduced into England by 

 Neighbour, the author of the valuable treatise already referred 

 to. The same year, Messrs. Wagner and Colvin imported the 

 Italians from Dzierzon's apiary into America; and in 1860, 

 Mr. S. P. Parsons brought the first colonies that were imported 

 direct from Italy. 



The Italian worker is quickly distinguished by the bright- 

 yellow rings at the base of the abdomen. If the colony is 



Fig. 6. 



Abdomen of Italian Worker. 



pure, every bee will show three of these golden girdles. The 

 two first segments or rings of the abdomen, except at their 

 posterior border, and also the base or anterior border of the 

 third, will be of this orange-yellow hue. The rest of the back 

 or dorsal surface will be much as in the German race. Under- 

 neath, the abdomen, except for a greater or less distance at 

 the tip, will also be yellow, while the same color appears more 

 or less strongly marked on the legs. The workers have longer 

 ligulse or tongues (Fig. 22, <) than the German race, and their 

 tongues are also a little more hairy. They are also more active, 

 and less inclined to sting. The queen has the entire base of 

 her abdomen, and sometimes nearly the whole of it, orange- 

 yeUow. The variation as to amount of color in the queens is 



