28 
nature study notes 
CYCLE Ihe queen lays her eggs in the relk 
am feeds the maggots which hatch from these egL 
a . 01 16 days they change to dark brown pupa, 
Huml'ii'C'"" 8 lheU ' res I >ective «lls. Young 
spring C e<!S e " ,erge fr ° m the W* ski »s in late 
NOTES -HumWc Bees do not receive the 
respectful consideration which is their due. They 
are extremely useful insects to the dairy farmer 
and, therefore, should not be molested or destroyed! 
hey probably carry out more than half of ' the 
pollination of the clovers which are so necessary 
tor good pasture paddocks and hay paddocks. 
THE STICK INSECT 
DESCRIPTION—Long, thin body, 3 to 4$ inches 
in length, lesembling a piece of stick or straw— 
usually the same colour as the twigs of the shrub 
or tree amongst which it is found. The colour of 
the insect changes in autumn in keeping with the 
changes of the decaying leaves. It has long legs 
but no wings. 
HABITS—Both when at rest and when moving, 
its long front legs are held straight forward in 
front of its head, being used as feelers. When 
disturbed, it drops to the ground and remains quite 
still, apparently lifeless, and so indistinguishable 
from a broken piece of twig. It sheds its skin 
several times. 
FOOD—The leaves of shrubs and trees, also the 
tender bark of stems. 
f 
i 
CYCLE—The female insect lays its eggs any¬ 
where, allowing them to fall to the ground, where 
