HYMENOPTERA — THE HONEY-BEE 
45 
29. Hymenoptera — The Honey-bee. — In contrast to the 
Lepidoptera, which, as has been said, are probably the most 
destructive order, we find the Hymenoptera (hy-men-op'- 
ter-a: Greek, hymenos , 
membrane or thin skin, 
pteron, wing) that are of 
the greatest value to man. 
This order includes the 
bees, wasps, ants, Ichneu- 
mones, and the like. The 
honey-bee and the bumble¬ 
bee are the most impor-' 
tant of the bees. The 
honey-bee is valuable for 
its honey and wax, and 
as a distributor of the 
pollen which is necessary 
to produce seed. The 
bumblebee is valuable mainly as a distributor of pollen. 
Honey-bees afford a splendid example of community life 
among insects. In the wild state they live in trees and caves. 
All wild honey-bees in this country have escaped from hives. 
riUUKH GZ. - I C.LLOW OWALLOWTAIL, 
Gathering Nectar from Lilacs. 
Figure 33. — a , Honey-bee Worker ; b , Queen ; c , Drone. 
Twice natural size. 
