2 HYMENOPTERA. 



r" These insects are characterised by having the basal \ 

 joint of the posterior tarsi dilated into an oblong or [ 

 subtrianglar plate, which is generally hirsute on the ( 

 inside, and provided with instruments for collectings 

 and carrying pollen." (14, II., 253). 



We will not discuss the groups of bees founded 

 upon structure. In habits bees are either social, soli- 

 tary or parasitic. 



I . Social Bees. 



The Honey-bee, Apis mellifica Linn. — This insect 

 lives in communities consisting of an immense number 

 of individuals. They usually build their nests in hol- 

 low trees, but will appropriate any suitable place that 

 may be furnished them ; hence they arc easily- domes- 

 ticated. The communities consist, at certain seasons 

 of the year, of three forms of individuals, — workers, 

 males, or drones, and a female, or queen. 



The workers need no description ; they are the 

 small, active individuals that constitute the greater 

 part of every swarm of bees. Upon them devolves 

 all the work of the hive, — the collection of provisions, 

 the excretion of wax, the building of combs, and the 

 care of the young. 



The males, or drones are larger than the workers, 

 and may be easily recognized by the blunt form of 

 each end of the body ; there are only a few of them in 

 a swarm ; and they are present only during early 

 summer ; at the close of the swarming season, the 

 remaining drones are destroyed or driven from the 

 hive by the workers. 



The female, or queen, is also larger than the work- 

 ers, and differs from the drones in having a long, 

 pointed body. 



