The Life Processes of the Individual 
141 
tube (without chitin) which represents the tenth abdominal 
segment ( X) so that the bee, like most other insects, has 
ten abdominal segments. In the drone, nine of these seg¬ 
ments are partially visible. The plates of the abdomen 
are easily movable, being connected by membranes so that 
the abdomen may be distended by food, or in the queen 
by the growth of the ovaries. In the typical segments 
(II-VII), there is a tergum (T) covering the dorsal and 
lateral surfaces, overlapping a sternum (S) or ventral piece. 
The spiracles (see p. 151) ( Sp) are on the terga (see Figs. 
73 and 75). 
The eighth, ninth 
and tenth segments 
of the drone are not 
typical. The tergum 
of the eighth seg¬ 
ment (Fig. 93, D, 
VII IT) is partly 
covered by that of 
the seventh and car¬ 
ries the most pos¬ 
terior of the spiracles 
(Sp). The sternum 
of this segment 
(VII IS) is likewise concealed on the ventral side. The 
dorsal portion of the ninth segment is chitinized to but 
a small extent but the ventral portion (IXS) is chitin¬ 
ized and carries two pairs of clasping organs, used during 
copulation (lClsp and 2Clsp). The penis is extruded during 
mating between the clasping organs. 
Tfl Ob 
Fig. 76. — Tip of abdomen of worker with left 
side removed, showing normal position of 
sting and anus. 
DIGESTION 
The workers take in food not only for their own nourish¬ 
ment but also that they may be able to provide food for 
the larvae. The queen eats frequently, especially during 
the period of active egg-laying, and a rapid metabolism 
