170 
WAX AND COMB CONSTRUCTION 
ventral plates (Fig. 22, c, f) there is a framework 
of chitine surrounding two transparent surfaces. One 
of the ventral plates is shown enlarged at Fig. 62, 
which is taken from a photo-micro- 
graph, and shows the transparent 
surfaces {b b) on which the wax 
scales are produced. The dark part 
shows the hard chitine framework 
surrounding the discs, with the 
division (a) called the septem^ or 
Carina. The transparent wax-yield- 
ing surfaces are irregular, pentagonal 
in shape, and are covered by the 
segment immediately above them. 
Fig. 61. The lower part, which overlaps the 
\\ ax Scales. plate below it, is of hard chitine, 
and covered with feathered hairs (p). The smooth 
Fig. 62. — Ventral Plate of Worker. 
surfaces are slightly sunk, and are the moulds on 
which the wax scales are formed from the secretion 
