150 
PARTHEIVOGENESrS. 
the different parts are homologues the one of the 
other. 
Queens frequently differ in prolificness, which is 
often attributable to imperfect fecundation. A weak 
drone, as we have seen on page 133, could not fill the 
spermatheca properly, and this would render the 
queen less prolific. It will therefore be seen that 
great importance should be attached to rearing good 
drones as well as good queens, and, that these should 
be properly fed in their larval state, they must be 
reared in strong colonies. 
In the worker, as a rule, the ovaries exist in a 
very rudimentary state (Fig. 55, c), and are sterile. 
They were discovered by Mademoiselle Jurine (75), 
and fully described by Ratzeburg (138) in 1833. 
They consist of a few thread - like tubes, generally 
from two to twelve, which contain no eggs, or even 
egg germs. At Fig. 55, c, is seen the rudimentary 
spermatheca, and the vagina is very narrow, and as the 
side pockets do not exist at all, it would be impossible 
for the male organ to enter it. 
All bee-keepers know that occasionally a worker 
will be found laying eggs, and such an one is 
called a fertile ivorker. The ovarian tubes (Fig. 55, 
B, a) of a fertile worker, according to Leuckart, 
have the same structure as those of a queen, and, 
although never so long as these, are a little longer 
than those of an ordinary worker {Bienenzeitung^ 
1857). The oviducts and vagina are very much 
smaller, there is only a vestige of an appendicular 
gland (^), and the spermatheca and bursa copu- 
