(Fig. 12). The task of collecting and storing honey is performed exclusively by the neuters (workers). The humble-bees do not fall far short of the honey-bees in the assiduity with which they frequent flowers, and they surpass the latter in size and in length of proboscis. Our most common species are the earth humble-bee (Bombus terrestris, Fig. 15), the garden humble-bee (Bombus hortorum), the moss-bee (Bombus muscorum), and the stone-bee (Bombus lapidarius). Very
| Fig. 12. | ||
| ||
| Fig. 13. | Fig. 14. | Fig. 15. |
| Hymenoptera.—Fig. 12.—Honey-bee(Apis mellifica), queen, natural size. Fig. 13.—Hairy-bee (Anthaphora retusa). Fig. 14.—Earth-bee (Andrena Schrankella). Fig. 15.—Humble-bee (Bombus terrestris). | ||
similar to the humble-bees in appearance and structure are the hairy-bees, one of which is shown in Fig. 13. They are readily distinguished, however, as we shall presently see, by the formation of the hind-legs. In Fig. 14 we have a sand-bee (Andrena Schrankella, a species representing one of the largest genera), which may be seen in early spring on catkins and other spring flowers.
We have already said that, over and above their high intelligence, bees are remarkable for having certain parts of their body specially modified in connection with the acquiring of honey and pollen. We must therefore further consider the structures concerned in effecting this end, viz., the suctorial apparatus and the apparatus for collecting pollen.
The suctorial apparatus is in most bees developed in very great perfection. In many (Figs. 13-15) the proboscis is of considerable
Fig. 16.—Head of Anthophora Retusa; ten times enlarged. I, side view; II, top view. R, tongue; K, maxillæ; T, labial palpi; O, mandibles; T, antennæ; A, eyes.
length, in some cases being as long as the body. It consists (Fig. 16) of the long vermiform tongue (R) (as in the butterflies), the upper
