how and why wonder book of ants and bees
TRANSCRIPT
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O W
N D
H Y
a
l Why Wonder
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T H E H O W A N D W H Y W O N D E R B O O K O F
A N T S
A N D
I M
W r i t t e n b y
R O N A L D N . R O O D
I l l u s t r a t e d b y
C Y N T H I A IL IFF K O E H L E R
a n d A L V I N K O E H L E R
E d i t o r i a l P r o d u c t i o n :
D O N A L D D . W O L F
*
* *
E d i t e d u n d e r t h e s u p e r v i s i o n o f
D r . P a u l E . B l a c k w o o d
W a s h i n g t o n , D . C .
T e x t a n d i l l u s t r a t i o n s a p p r o v e d b y
O a k e s A . W h i t e
B r o o k l y n C h i l d r e n ' s M u s e u m
B r o o k l y n , N e w Y o r k
G R O S S E T & D U N L A P * P u b l i s h e r s - N E W Y O R K
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I n t r o d u c t i o n
A n y o n e w h o d o u b t s t h a t t r u t h i s s t r a n g e r t h a n fictio n n e e d o n l y s t u d y
th e
h a b i t s o f t h e s o c i a l i n s e c t s t o h a v e h i s o p i n i o n c h a n g e d . F o r t h e l i fe
p a t t e r n s of t h e s e s i x - l e g g e d a n i m a l s r e v e a l e v e n t s o f s h e e r w o n d e r t h a t c o u l d
s c a r c e l y b e i m a g i n e d b y t h e b e s t f i c t i o n w r i t e r .
S c i e n t i s t s h a v e s t u d i e d t h e s o c i a l i n s e c t s f o r c e n t u r i e s , a n d a f a i r l y
c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e of t h e p e c u l i a r a n d f a s c i n a t i n g b e h a v i o r o f ithese i nse c t s i s
a v a i l a b l e . T h i s How and Why Wonder Book a c c u r a t e l y p r e s e n t s t h e e ss e n t i a l
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e f o u r f a m i l i e s of s o c i a l i n s e c t s b e e s , w a s p s , a n t s a n d
termites.
T o a c a s u a l o b s e r v e r , m a n y o f t h e a c t i o n s of s o c i a l i n s e c t s m a y a p p e a r
s t r a n g e . A r e d a n c i n g b e e s re a l ly d a n c i n g ? A r e b u m b l e b e e s b e i n g m i s c h i e v o u s
w h e n t h e y w a l k u p t o a n i n t r u d e r a n d plaster i t w i t h a g l u e y m e s s of h o n e y ?
W h a t e v e r t h e a p p e a r a n c e of s u c h a c t i o n s t o a c a s u a l o b s e r v e r , c l o s e s t u d y
s h o w s t h a t t h e y a r e i m p o r t a n t t o t h e i n s e c t s i n b u i l d i n g a n d m a i n t a i n i n g
t h e i r i n s e c t s o c i e t y .
I t i s p o s s i b l e f o r a n y o n e t o w a t c h s o c i a l i n s e c t s a t c l o s e r a n g e . T h i s c a n
b e d o n e a t h o m e o r i n s c h o o l b y m a k i n g a n o b s e r v a t i o n n e s t . D i r e c t i o n s f o r
m a k i n g o n e a r e f o u n d i n t h i s b o o k . S u c h a p r o j e c t i s f u n a s w e l l a s i n s t r u c
t i v e f o r i n d i v i d u a l s o r c l a s s g r o u p s .
T h e s t u d y o f s o c i a l i n s e c t s is a p a r t o f t h e s c i e n c e c o u r s e i n m a n y
s c h o o l s . F o r t h i s r e a s o n ,
The How and Why Wonder Book of Ants and Bees
w i l l b e a u s e f u l a d d i t i o n t o b o t h h o m e a n d s c h o o l l i b r a r i e s .
Paul E Blackwood
Dr. Blackwood is a professional employee in the
U.
S. Office of Education.
This book was edited by him in his private capacity and no official support or
endorsement by the Office of Education is intended or should be inferred.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 62-9677
1962,1971. Grosset Dunlap. Inc.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published simultaneously in Canada. Printed in the United States of America.
19 72 PRINTING
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C o n t e n t s
Page
SOCI L INSECTS
4
BEES
6
T H E C A S T L E O F W A X 6
Wh at is inside the wax castle? 6
How many rooms does it have? 6
What d6 the nurse bees do? 6
Why do bees evaporate their honey? 6
How man y bees live in a hive? 8
W hat is the job of the dron e bee? 8
W hat causes the "song of the hive"? 9
How do bees keep their hive clean? 9
TH E M A G IC O F BEES 10
How does a new bee get its food?
11
How does the baby bee grow?
11
What does a new worker do? 12
How is beeswax mad e? 12
W hat is the bee's tool kit? 13
TH E D A N C E O F TH E BEES 14
How do bees tell direction? 14
How do bees comm unicate? 14
Why does a bee die when it stings? 15
T H E C A P T I V E Q U E E N 16
Wh at does the new queen look like? 16
Why does she kill her sister queens?
16
What happen s to the old queen mother? 17
What is a "swarm day"? 17
How is the queen like a prisoner?
18
What happens to the drones after mating?
19
How many eggs does the new queen
produce? 19
What happens if the queen is taken away? 19
How long does the queen live? 19
B E E S W I T H O U T A H I V E 2 0
How do stingless bees fight enem ies? 20
How is a queen bumblebee like a
mother bird? 20
What are the bum blebee's enemies? 22
What are "callows"? 22
How is honey used by bees for defense? 22
What is a carpenter bee? 23
How do mason bees build their homes? 23
How many kinds of bees are known? 23
W SPS
24
T H E H E L P F U L W A S P S 2 4
W hat is a fig wasp? 24
How man y kinds of wasps are there? 24
How do wasps help farmers? 24
Why do some wasps drill into trees? 25
W hat asp is a hitchhik er? 25
How do hun ter wasps feed their young? 26
W hat do gall wasps do? 26
T H E P A P E R P A L A C E 2 7
When was paper originally made? 27
How do wasps make paper? 27
Page
W here can wasp nests be found? 27
Wh at is a hornet? 27
Ho w do baby wasps live? 28
How do the new wasps help in the nest? 28
How are queen wasps produced ? 29
W hat hap pen s to the wasps in the fall? 30
NTS
31
TH E F O R ES T O F G RA S S 31
W hen do the winged ants fly?
31
Wh o are their enemies? 32
W hat does the quee n do with her wings? 32
Wh at do the new larvae eat? 33
What are "minims"? 33
H O W A N TS F IN D F O O D 34
Do ants lay down a trail? 34
What is pheromone? 34
A R M I E S O N T H E M A R C H 3 6
How do the army ants live? 36
Ho w many kinds of ants are known ? 37
W hat ants have slaves? 38
How are some ants useful? 38
Wh at are ant farmers? 38
How do ants keep "cows"? 38
Wh at are honey ants? 39
How do ants prote ct their nests? 39
How large are ant hills? 39
TERMITES 41
T H E W O O D E N C A V E R N 4 1
W hat are new born termites like? 41
W hat food does it eat? 41
Ho w is a term ite's food digested? 41
Why are term ite nests closed? 42
How long do termites live? 42
W hat is a term ite "flight day "? 42
Ho w long do royal termites live? 43
Wh y is the queen called an egg-mac hine? 43
How large are term ite houses? 43
W hat are soldier termites? 43
W hat is a "nasute" ? 44
How man y kinds of termites are there? 44
INSECT INTRUDERS 44
How can a moth destroy a honeycomb? 44
W hat are some of the other hive-rob bers? 45
Wh at insects invade nests of wasps? 45
What is the "paralyzer"? 45
W hat are some other ant visitors? 45
Wh at creatures live in termite homes? 46
What is a
Jerrymunglum?
46
YOUR INSECT ZOO 47
How can you watch bees at home? 47
How can you watch wasps? 47
How can you ma ke a nest for ants? 47
Ho w can termites be kept? 48
W hat is the best insect zoo of all? 48
w
^^^0m\ff*'\^^ '
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ B
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Thefemale of theCitheronia
Regalis
moth
lays her eggs
on the bark of a sumac tree
and moves on, spending no
time in caring for the young.
The wasp, like the moth, is a member
of the insect world and takes care of
its young. Here you see some of the
many workers feeding the babies in
the wasp's nest.
S O C I A L I N S E C T S
T h e f e m a l e m o t h c r e e p s s l o w l y a l o n g
a t r e e l i m b . F i n a l l y s h e s t o p s a n d l a y s
a f e w e g g s . T h e y s t i c k t o t h e b a r k .
T h e n s h e c r a w l s a w a y .
W h e n h e r b a b i e s h a t c h , t h e y m u s t
m a k e t h e i r w a y b y t h e m s e l v e s . T h e r e
a r e n o p a r e n t s t o p r o t e c t t h e m . A l o n e ,
t h e y m u s t find f o o d a n d h i d e f r o m
t h e i r e n e m i e s .
M o s t o t h e r i n s e c t s d o t h e s a m e t h i n g .
T h e m o s q u i t o s e t s h e r e g g s a f l o a t o n a
l i t t l e r a f t . W a l k i n g - s t i c k i n s e c t s j u s t
d r o p t h e i r s o n t h e g r o u n d . O t h e r i n s e c t s
p l a c e t h e i r e g g s w h e r e t h e i r y o u n g m a y
find f o o d a n d s h e l t e r . T h e n t h e y l e a v e
t h e m f o r e v e r .
H o w s t r a n g e i t i s , t h e n , t o s e e a w a s p
c a r i n g f o r h e r b a b i e s S h e b r i n g s f o o d ,
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c h e w s i t u p u n t i l i t i s s o f t a n d p l a c e s i t
i n t h e i r l i t t le m o u t h s . S h e l i c k s t h e m ,
s t r o k e s t h e m w i t h h e r a n t e n n a e , o r
" f e e l e r s , " a n d b u i l d s a s h e l t e r t o k e e p
o u t t h e s u n a n d t h e r a i n . I f d a n g e r
s t r i k e s , s h e fl i e s t o w a r d i t , e v e n i f i t i s
a n a n i m a l a t h o u s a n d t i m e s h e r s iz e .
O f a l l t h e i n s e c t s , o n l y b e e s , w a s p s ,
a n t s a n d t e r m i t e s t a k e c a r e o f t h e i r
f a m i l i e s . T h e f a m i l y , i n t u r n , h e l p s t h e
m o t h e r t o c a r e f o r h e r l a t e r o f f s p r i n g .
B e c a u s e o f t h i s , a n d a l s o b e c a u s e t h e s e
i n s e c t s l i v e i n l i t t l e g r o u p s o r s o c i e t i e s ,
t h e y a r e c a l l e d " s o c i a l i n s e c t s . "
N o b o d y i s s u r e h o w t h e s o c i a l h a b i t
d e v e l o p e d . B u t s c i e n t i s t s h a v e n o t i c e d
a n i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g . O f t e n , a s s o o n a s
t h e y o u n g i n s e c t s a r e g i v e n f o o d , t h e y
p r o d u c e l i t t l e b u b b l e s o f s a l i v a . T h e
A bee will defend the hive against a larger enemy.
Ants, like bees, are social insects. The
fire
ants above
carry a larva and a cocoon to a safer place. Below
are two termites licking each other. This is a process
that, according to scientists, helps to keep the insect
family together.
a d u l t i n s e c t s l i c k u p t h e s a l i v a q u i c k l y .
T h e n t h e a d u l t s p r o d u c e m o r e s a l i v a ,
w h i c h o t h e r a d u l t i n s e c t s l i c k u p .
D o e s t h i s s p e c i a l s u b s t a n c e i n t h e
b u b b l e s h e l p t o k e e p t h e i n s e c t f a m i l y
t o g e t h e r ? M a n y s c i en t i s t s . th in k s o .
T h e y c a l l t h e p r o c e s s
trophallaxis
o r
" n u r s i n g t o g e t h e r . " A s o n e s c i e n t i s t
s a i d , " T o o t h e r s i n t h e n e s t , e a c h i n s e c t
m u s t b e a l i v i n g l o l l i p o p . "
W h a t k i n d s o f h o m e s d o t h e s e i n s e c t s
h a v e i n t h e i r h o l l o w t r e e s a n d p a p e r
n e s t s ? W h a t h a p p e n s a f t e r t h e y h a v e
g o n e t h r o u g h t h e e n t r a n c e h o l e a n d d i s
a p p e a r e d f r o m s i g h t ? T h i s b o o k h e l p s
t o t e l l t h e i r w o n d e r f u l s t o r y .
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B E E S
A worker bee on a honeycomb.
(actual size)
T h e C a s t l e o f W a x
T h e h o n e y b e e s c o m e f r o m e v e r y d i
r e c t i o n . E a c h o n e finds t h e t a r g e t a n
o p e n i n g o n l y a n i n c h w i d e . O u t o f t h i s
o p e n i n g s t r e a m o t h e r h o n e y b e e s , c i r
c l i n g f o r a m o m e n t b e f o r e t h e y d a r t
a w a y . T h e w a x c a s t l e of t h e b e e s i s h u m
m i n g w i t h l i fe .
What is inside
the wax castle?
I n s i d e t h e o p e n i n g is a n a m a z i n g s c e n e .
N o f a c t o r y e v e r r a n
w i t h m o r e b u s t l e
a n d a c t i v i t y . H a n g
i n g f r o m t h e r o o f a r e h e a v y c u r t a i n s o f
w a x . T h e y m a y b e l a r g e r t h a n t h i s b o o k
a n d f o u r t i m e s a s t h i c k . O n b o t h s i d e s
o f t h e c u r t a i n s a r e c o u n t l e s s h o n e y b e e s ,
p o k i n g t h e i r h e a d s i n t o h u n d r e d s o f
l i t t le c e l l s o r c h a m b e r s .
T h i s i s t h e c a s t l e o f t e n t h o u s a n d r o o m s .
E a c h c e l l o f t h e
H o w m a n y r o o m s . ,.. . ,
,
A
, c u r t a i n s is a l i t t l e
d o e s it h a v e ? .
r o o m b y i t se l f . A l
t h o u g h w e o f t e n s p e a k o f t h e c u r t a i n s
a s " h o n e y c o m b , " a g r e a t m a n y of t h e m
d o n o t c o n t a i n h o n e y a t a l l . T h e c e l l s
o f t h e b r o o d c o m b e a c h h a v e a s m a l l
i n h a b i t a n t a g r u b l i k e l a r v a t h a t w i l l
s o o n t u r n i n t o a n e w h o n e y b e e . F o r t h e
l a r v a , t h e c e l l i s a c r a d l e , l i v i n g r o o m
a n d b e d r o o m c o m b i n e d . T h e l a r v a s t a y s
i n i t f r o m t h e d a y it h a t c h e s u n t i l t h e
d a y i t i s f u l l y g r o w n .
N u r s e b e e s a r e w a l k i n g a ll o v e r t h e
b r o o d c o m b . S o m e
w h a t d o t h e .. . , . . .. . t i m e s t h e y p u t t h e i r
n u r s e b e e s d o ?
J r
f e e t r i g h t o n t h e
h e a d s o f t h e b a b i e s . O n e a f t e r t h e o t h e r ,
t h e y b e n d d o w n a n d p o k e t h e i r h e a d s
i n s i d e t h e c e l ls . T h e y f e e d a n d l i c k t h e i r
l i t t l e s i s t e r s i n t h e i r c r a d l e s .
T h e r e is a n o t h e r k i n d o f c e l l o n t h e
e d g e o f t h e c o m b . I t i s m u c h l a r g e r t h a n
t h e o t h e r s . I t l o o k s a l m o s t l i k e a p e a n u t
s h e l l m a d e o u t o f w a x . I n s i d e i t i s a
l a r v a j u s t l i k e t h e t h o u s a n d s o f o t h e r s
o n l y a l i t t l e l a r g e r . T h i s s t r a n g e c e l l
m u s t b e s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l t o b e o ff o n
t h e s i d e o f t h e c o m b w h e r e it c a n h a v e
p l e n t y o f r o o m . I n d e e d i t i s , f o r i t i s t h e
r o y a l n u r s e r y o f t h e l a r v a t h a t w i l l s o o n
b e c o m e t h e n e w q u e e n .
O v e r o n t h e t r u e " h o n e y c o m b , " s o m e
t h i n g s t r a n g e i s t a k i n g
W h y d o b e e s
p l a c g B e e a f e w a l k
.
evaporate , , .,
t h e i r h o n e y ?
m
S f^
t h e
h a l f - f i l l e d c e l l s , b e a t
i n g t h e i r w i n g s a s if t h e y w e r e t r y i n g t o
fly. A s t h e b r e e z e f r o m t h e i r w i n g s f a n s
a c r o s s t h e c e l l s , i t m a k e s t h e s w e e t l i q u i d
e v a p o r a t e . A c e l l t h a t w a s filled w i t h
h o n e y m a y b e o n l y t h r e e - q u a r t e r s f u l l
t h e n e x t d a y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e a i r f r o m
t h e i r w i n g s . T h i s s e e m s l i k e a w a s t e
t o b r i n g i n n e c t a r f r o m t h e flo wers a n d
t h e n e v a p o r a t e it s o t h e r e i s n o t m u c h
l e f t . B u t o n e t a s t e o f t h e l i q u i d w i l l t e l l
w h y i t i s d o n e . T h e s u g a r t h a t s t a y s b e
h i n d a s t h e w a t e r e v a p o r a t e s g e t s t h i c k e r
a n d s w e e t e r .
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The wild beehive in a
hol low t ree c lear ly
shows the various
combs, hanging down
l i ke cu r t a i n s a n d
drapes in a home.
1
f i
n
,,
,.* ,
.
J
/ W O R K E R
T h e r e a r e " p a n t r y c e l l s , " t o o , f o r
s t o r a g e o f p o l l e n a s f o o d . B u t i n a n o t h e r
p a r t o f t h e h i v e i s a c o m b t h a t s e e m s
d e s e r t e d . E a c h of t h e c e l l s h a s b e e n c o v
e r e d w i t h a w a x c a p . T h e y h a n g h e a v y
a n d s ti l l , a s if t h e y h a v e b e e n f o r g o t t e n .
B u t t h e y a r e filled w i t h g o l d e n t r e a s u r e
t h e n e c t a r b r o u g h t f r o m t h e fields
a n d c h a n g e d i n t h e b o d i e s o f t h e b e e s
i n t o t h i c k , r i c h h o n e y . E a c h p o u n d o f
i t i s t h e w o r k o f m a n y b e e s . S o m e t i m e s
PROBOSCIS
HEAD
COMPOUND
EYE
ANTENNA
OCELLI
THORAX
POLLEN-COLLECTING
HAIRS ON LEG
STING
The form, structure and vital parts of a bee (worker).
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The building of queen
cells gets special at
tention. They are larger
than the other cells and
are built at the edge
of the combsothat they
get more air. Some of
the cells above are
under construction. The
one at the right is ready
to receive an egg.
r.j * '& >*
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If there is not enough
food
available, a
worker
might evict a drone
from the hive.
The drone, unable to
eat by itself, is fed by
workers or it starves.
w a y i n t o t h e w o r l d . F o r i t m u s t p r o v i d e
m i l l i o n s o f t i n y s p e r m c e l l s t h a t t h e
q u e e n b e e s t o r e s i n a s p e c i a l p o u c h i n
h e r b o d y . T h e n , j u s t b e f o r e s h e p l a c e s
n e w e g g s i n t h e b r o o d c o m b , s h e f e r t i
l i z e s e a c h o n e w i t h a s p e r m c e l l , s o t h a t
i t c a n d e v e l o p i n t o a n e w w o r k e r .
O n c e i t w a s t h o u g h t t h a t t h e d r o n e s
w e r e l a z y b e c a u s e t h e y d i d n ' t h e l p w i t h
t h e h i v e d u t i e s . B u t n o w w e k n o w t h a t
t h e y c o u l d n ' t h e l p , n o m a t t e r h o w m u c h
t h e y w a n t e d t o . T h e i r l e g s , h e a d s a n d
b o d i e s a r e n o t s h a p e d r i g h t f o r f a s h i o n
i n g t h e w a x i n t o t h e p e r f e c t l i t t l e c h a m
b e r s . T h e y d o n ' t e v e n h a v e a s t i n g w i t h
w h i c h t h e y c a n h e l p t o d r i v e a w a y e n e
m i e s . T h e y j u s t h a v e t h o s e i m p o r t a n t
l i t t le s p e r m c e l l s , r e a d y t o b e g i v e n t o
t h e q u e e n i n m a t i n g .
What causes the
song of the hive ?
T h e " s o n g o f t h e h i v e " i s a s t e a d y , h i g h -
p i t c h e d h u m . I t
i s m a d e b y t h e
w i n g s o f t h e b e e s
a s t h e y g o a b o u t t h e i r w o r k . S u d d e n l y
t h e s o n g b e c o m e s l o u d e r . T h e n s c r a t c h -
i n g s a n d s q u e a k i n g c a n b e h e a r d . A
m o u s e h a s t r i e d t o s t e a l t h e h o n e y . B u t
t h e b e e s a r e a l w a y s o n t h e i r g u a r d . T h e y
a t t a c k t h e m o u s e a n d d r i v e i t a w a y f r o m
t h e i r n e s t .
S o m e t i m e s t h e i r a t t a c k i s s o fierce
t h a t t h e y k i l l t h e m o u s e . T h e n t h e y h a v e
a r e a l p r o b l e m . I t ' s a l m o s t l i k e h a v i n g
a d e a d e l e p h a n t i n t h e l i v i n g r o o m . I f
t h e y d o n ' t d o s o m e t h i n g q u i c k l y , t h e
o d o r of t h e m o u s e w i l l s p o i l t h e h o n e y .
B u t h o w c a n t h e y g e t s u c h a b i g c r e a
t u r e o u t o f t h e h i v e ?
T h e a n s w e r l ie s i n a n o t h e r k i n d o f
b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l u s e d
b y b e e s
p r o p o l i s
o r
" b e e - g l u e . " Q u i c k l y
t h e y g e t t h e s t i c k y
m a t e r i a l f r o m c e r t a i n b u d s a n d t w i g s .
How do bees
keep their
hive clean?
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T h e n t h e y w o r k it i n t o a l i q u i d w h i c h
t h e y u s e t o c o v e r t h e d e a d m o u s e . W h e n
i t d r i e s , i t l o o k s l i k e t o u g h b r o w n p a i n t .
T h e m o u s e is s e a l e d i n i t s o w n l i t t l e
t o m b , r i g h t i n s i d e t h e h i v e .
T h i s i s j u s t o n e m e t h o d o f g a r b a g e
d i s p o s a l . T h e b e e s k e e p t h e i r h i v e c l e a n
a t a l l t i m e s . A n y t h i n g t h a t d o e s n ' t b e
l o n g t h e r e g e t s d u m p e d o u t s i d e . S o m e
t i m e s a w o r k e r w i l l d r a g o u t a p r o t e s t i n g
d r o n e a s if h e w e r e a p i e c e o f r u b b i s h .
T h e n t h e d r o n e c r a w l s b a c k in a g a i n ,
a n d five m i n u t e s l a t e r t h e s a m e w o r k e r
m a y b e g i v i n g h i m s o m e h o n e y .
N o o n e is s u r e h o w t h e b e e s k n o w
w h a t j o b t h e y a r e s u p p o s e d t o d o . B u t
e a c h o n e o f t h e m , d o i n g i ts l i t t l e t a s k ,
h e l p s t h e w h o l e h i v e t o o p e r a t e l i k e a
b i g , h u m m i n g m a c h i n e . S o m e t i m e s t h e
" m a c h i n e " i s l o c a t e d i n a h o l l o w t r e e .
O t h e r t i m e s i t i s i n a s p e c i a l l y - b u i l t b e e
h i v e . T h e B i b l e te l l s u s t h a t S a m s o n
f o u n d b e e s i n t h e b o d y o f a d e a d l i o n .
B u t n o m a t t e r w h e r e t h e i r h o m e i s l o
c a t e d , t h e b e e s a l w a y s b u i l d t h e s a m e
w a x c u r t a i n - c o m b s w i t h t h e s a m e si x-
s i d e d c e l l s , h a l f a n i n c h l o n g a n d a q u a r
t e r - i n c h w i d e .
T h e c e l l s a r e s o p e r f e c t a n d r e g u l a r
t h a t t h e F r e n c h s c i e n t i s t R e a u m u r o n c e
s u g g e s t e d t h e y c o u l d b e u s e d a s a u n i t
o f m e a s u r e m e n t .
H o w c a n t h e h o n e y b e e d o a l l h e r
m a n y j o b s a n d m a k e s u c h p e r f e c t w a x
c e l l s ? S o m e o f t h e a n s w e r s w i l l b e f o u n d
i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r .
EGG IN CELL
>
HEAD OF A WORKER
The gray, comma-shaped
egg is attached to the
bottom of the cell with
an adhesive secretion.
A bl ind and legless
grub hatches from the
egg. It is fed continu
ously until it starts spin
ning a cocoon after a
few days.
T h e M a g i c o f B e e s
F r o m a b l i n d , h e l p l e s s b a b y n o l a r g e r
t h a n a g r a i n o f s u g a r t o a f u l l - f l e d g e d
i n s e c t w i t h a w h o l e s e t o f t o o l s t h a t
i s t h e s t o r y of t h e h o n e y b e e . I t b e g i n s
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l if e a s a t i n y c o m m a - s h a p e d e g g . I t c a n
h a r d l y b e s e e n in t h e c e l l t h a t s e e m s
s o h u g e i n c o m p a r i s o n . I t h a t c h e s t h r e e
d a y s a f t e r i t i s p l a c e d t h e r e b y t h e
q u e e n m o t h e r . B u t i t d o e s n ' t l o o k l i k e
a b e e a t a l l . I t is j u s t a w h i t e , l e g l e s s ,
b l i n d g r u b t h a t s e e m s t o b e a ll a p p e t i t e .
How does a
new bee get
its food?
F o o d i s n e a r a t h a n d . A f e w m i n u t e s
a f t e r t h e g r u b h a s
h a t c h e d , t h e h e a d o f
a f u l l - g r o w n b e e a p
p e a r s a t t h e g r u b ' s
c e ll . P o k i n g d o w n t o t h e n e w a r r i v a l ,
t h e a d u l t b e e s u p p l i e s i t w i t h " r o y a l
j e l l y " a p a s t e m a d e i n s p e c i a l g l a n d s
i n t h e b e e ' s h e a d . N o s o o n e r h a s i t f e d
t h e li t t le l a r v a a n d g o n e o n t o t h e n e x t
c e l l t h a n a n o t h e r l o a d o f f o o d a r r i v e s .
T h e n a n o t h e r c o m e s , a n d a n o t h e r , a n d
a n o t h e r a b o u t o n c e e v e r y m i n u t e .
How does the
baby bee grow?
I n s t e a d o f c h o k i n g o n a ll t h i s f o o d , t h e
l a r v a b e g i n s t o
s w e l l l i k e a b a l l o o n .
I t s s k i n g e t s t i g h t e r ,
l i k e a j a c k e t t h a t i s t o o s m a l l . S o o n i t
s p l i t s a n d t h e g r u b w r i g g l e s f r e e . T h e
n e x t d a y i t m o l t s , o r s h e d s i t s j a c k e t ,
a g a i n . F i n a l l y , t h e l a r v a h a s b e c o m e s o
l a r g e t h a t i t fills i t s c e l l . I t h a s b e e n f e d
a b o u t t e n t h o u s a n d t i m e s r o y a l j e l l y
PUPA
OAWDRKERS
f o r t h e first t w o d a y s a n d " b e e b r e a d , "
o r flow er p o l l e n m i x e d w i t h h o n e y , f o r
f o u r m o r e . N o w i t i s a s b i g a s t h e e r a s e r
o n t h e e n d o f a n e w p e n c i l m o r e t h a n
a t h o u s a n d t i m e s l a r g e r t h a n i t w a s a
w e e k a g o .
I t b e g i n s t o p r o d u c e a s t i c k y s il k f r o m
g l a n d s n e a r i t s m o u t h . W e a v i n g b a c k
a n d f o r t h , i t s p i n s t h e s il k i n t o a l a c y
c o c o o n . T h e n i t l i e s s t il l , l i k e a m u m m y
w r a p p e d i n c l o th .
A l l o v e r t h e b r o o d c o m b , h u n d r e d s
o f o t h e r b e e l a r v a e a r e d o i n g t h e s a m e
t h i n g . T h e q u e e n m o t h e r t h a t l a i d t h e
e g g s m a y h a v e p r o d u c e d a t h o u s a n d M
t h a t s a m e d a y p l a c i n g e a c h i n i t s C.-
o w n s i x - s i d e d c e l l . J u s t b e f o r e t h e l a r v a e
s t a r t t o f o r m c o c o o n s , t h e n u r s e b e e s
s e a l t h e i r r o o m s w i t h w a x . T h e n t h e y
g o o n t o t h e c a r e of o t h e r b a b i e s .
I n s i d e t h e c o c o o n t h e r e i s a g r e a t
c h a n g e . T h e so f t, l e g l e s s g r u b b o d y
s t i f fe n s . O u t l i n e s o f l e g s , w i n g s , e y e s ,
a n t e n n a e , o r " f e e l e r s , " b e g i n t o f o r m .
T h e l a r v a i s a l a r v a n o l o n g e r , b u t a
p u p a d a r k e n i n g , h a r d e n i n g , f u l l o f
p r o m i s e o f t h e h o n e y b e e t o c o m e .
T w e l v e d a y s l a t e r , a s h a r p n e w p a i r
o f j a w s b e g i n s t o c u t a w a y a t t h e w a x
c a p o f t h e c e l l . N o w c o m e s t h e g r e a t e s t
m a r v e l o f a l l . T h e c e ll o p e n s a n d o u t
c o m e s a c l e a n n e w h o n e y b e e h e r
Here, in the cocoon, the
great change takes
place: from grub to
milk-white nymph or
pupa, until one day the
adult bee emerges. If
the egg is fertilized,
the bee will become a
worker. If not fertilized,
it will become a drone.
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f o u r s h i n i n g w i n g s t h i n n e r t h a n p a p e r ,
h e r s i x l e g s r e a d y t o c l i n g t o t h e p e t a l s
o f t h e flo we rs s h e h a s n e v e r s e e n . S c i e n
t i s t s s a y t h a t s u c h a c h a n g e , f r o m a g r u b
t o a b e e , i s a s w o n d e r f u l a s p u t t i n g a
t r u c k i n t o a g a r a g e , c l o s i n g t h e d o o r
a n d t a k i n g o u t a b e a u t i f u l n e w a i r p l a n e
t w e l v e d a y s l a t e r .
The wax can be seen in this close-up view
of the underside of a worker bee.
To make wax for building new cells,
bees hang in chains from combs. Thin
slips of wax come from their abdominal
plates as they stretch themselves.
t h e i r o w n . T h e n i n a f e w d a y s , t h e
g l a n d s i n h e r h e a d b e g i n t o m a k e r o y a l
j e l ly f o r t h e n e w b o r n b a b i e s . O n e o f
t h e m m a y b e g r o w i n g i n t h e s a m e c e l l
s h e o c c u p i e d j u s t a f e w d a y s b e f o r e .
What does a
new worker do?
A l l a r o u n d h e r a r e h u n d r e d s o f o t h e r
w o r k e r s , b u s y a t
t h e i r t a s k s . A f t e r
b u z z i n g h e r n e w
w i n g s a n d s t r e t c h i n g h e r n e w l e g s f o r a
d a y o r s o , s h e g o e s t o w o r k h e r s e l f . S h e
f e e d s p o l l e n a n d h o n e y t o h e r y o u n g e r
s i s t e r s , a l l r e a d y t o b u i l d c o c o o n s o f
How is
beeswax
made?
N e w w a x is n e e d e d f o r t h e c o m b . T h e
y o u n g w o r k e r t a k e s g r e a t
d r i n k s o f h o n e y a n d t h e n
" h a n g s h e r s e l f u p " i n a
s h e e t o f l i v i n g b o d i e s w i t h
h e r s i s te r s . E a c h o n e h a n g s w i t h h e r
f r o n t f e e t a t t a c h e d t o t h e h i n d l e g s o f
t h e o n e a b o v e . A f t e r a f e w h o u r s l i t t l e
p l a t e s o f w a x a p p e a r o n e a c h a b d o m e n .
W a x o o z e s o u t t h r o u g h s p e c i a l g l a n d s .
S h a p i n g t h e w a x w i t h t h e j a w s a n d f e e t,
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t h e b e e s b u i l d n e w c e l ls l i k e t h e t h o u
s a n d s a l r e a d y t h e r e .
A b e e c a n n o t a l w a y s p r o d u c e b e e s
w a x . N o r c a n i t a l w a y s p r o d u c e r o y a l
j e l l y . T h e l if e o f b e e s r u n s in a s e r i e s o f
s t a g e s . O n c e t h e b e e h a s p a s s e d a c e r
t a i n p o i n t , i t d o e s n o t g o b a c k a g a i n .
Y o u n g w o r k e r s c a n m a k e r o y a l j e l l y f o r
a f e w d a y s . T h e n t h e y c a n m a k e w a x .
T h e n , w h e n t h e y a r e o l d e r , t h e y g o o u t
i n t o t h e fields t o g a t h e r n e c t a r a n d p o l
l e n . S o if w e k n o w w h a t k i n d of w o r k
a b e e i s d o i n g , w e h a v e s o m e i d e a of h o w
o l d i t i s .
W h e n s h e l e a v e s t h e h i v e , t h e w o r k e r
i s a l m o s t l i k e a p u p p y i n a s t r a n g e n e w
y a r d . S h e flies a r o u n d a n d a r o u n d ,
n e v e r s t r a y i n g f a r f r o m t h e h i v e . H e r
g r e a t c o m p o u n d e y e s t a k e i n t h e f o r m
o f r o c k s a n d t r e e s n e a r b y . T h e si x t h o u
s a n d " s m e l l - p l a t e s " o n h e r a n t e n n a e
r e c e i v e s t r a n g e o d o r s f r o m t h e n e w
w o r l d , b u t s h e d o e s n ' t v e n t u r e a w a y
The bees collect pollen on their hind legs. Pollen
is held in place by long leg hairs, which form the
so-called po llen baskets (right).
With its long proboscis, the bee sucks the nectar
that is produced in the bottom of the flower. In
doing so, the bee pollinates the flower, making it
possible to produce seeds (below).
u n t i l a d a y o r t w o l a t e r . T h e n s h e b e
g i n s t h e j o b t h a t w i l l l a s t t h e r e s t o f
h e r l i f e .
What is the
bee's tool kit?
S h e c a r r i e s h e r t o o l k i t r i g h t w i t h h e r .
I t i s i n t h e f o r m o f
b r i s t l e s a n d s p i n e s o n
h e r l e g s . S h e h a s a
p a i r o f " p o l l e n b a s k e t s " o n h e r h i n d l e g s
t o s tu f f f u l l o f t h e g o l d e n p o w d e r f r o m
flow ers. H e r f r o n t l e g s h a v e c l e a n i n g
b r u s h e s f o r t h e d e l i c a t e a n t e n n a e .
S p i n e s o n t h e m i d d l e l e g s h e l p p r y
p o l l e n o u t o f t h e p o l l e n b a s k e t s . O t h e r
s p i n e s h e l p h e r t r i m a n d s h a p e t h e w a x
f o r t h e c o m b .
W h e n s h e g o e s f r o m o n e flow er t o
a n o t h e r , s h e p o k e s h e r h e a d d e e p i n t o
i t s c e n t e r t o g e t t h e s w e e t n e c t a r . H a i r s
o n h e r b o d y b r u s h t h e p o w d e r y p o l l e n
a r o u n d . S h e s t u ff s i t i n h e r p o l l e n b a s
k e t s . T h e n s o m e o f i t r u b s o ff a s s h e
b r u s h e s a r o u n d i n t h e n e x t flow er.
BEE
(ACTUAL SIZ
FILLED POLLEN BASKET
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T h e D a n c e o f t h e B e e s
T h e m y s t e r y o f h o w b e e s t e l l o t h e r
b e e s w h e r e f o o d i s t o
H o w d o b e e s , , , , ,
.
.. ..
b e
f o u n d
h a s l o n g
t e l l d i r e c t i o n ?
p u z z l e d s c i e n t i s t s . I n
1 9 4 5 ,
a n A u s t r i a n z o o l o g i s t b y t h e n a m e
o f K a r l v o n F r i s c h s e t t o w o r k t o s o l v e
t h e p u z z l e .
D r . v o n F r i s c h k n e w t h a t w o r k e r b e e s
o f t e n j o u r n e y e d s e v e r a l m i l e s t o f ind a
fie ld o f flo we rs. Y e t t h e y a l w a y s f o u n d
t h e i r w a y b a c k h o m e e a s i ly . D r . v o n
F r i s c h w a n t e d t o d i s c o v e r h o w t h e b e e s
k e p t f r o m g e t t i n g l o s t i n t h e i r t r i p t o a n d
from f lowers .
D r . v o n F r i s c h k n e w t h a t l o n g b e f o r e
c o m p a s s e s w e r e i n v e n t e d , s a i l o r s w e r e
a b l e t o find t h e i r w a y a c r o s s u n c h a r t e d
s e a s . H o w ? T h e y n a v i g a t e d b y f o l l o w i n g
t h e s u n d u r i n g t h e d a y a n d t h e s t a r s a t
n i g h t . D i d b e e s d o t h e s a m e ?
T o find o u t , D r . v o n F r i s c h c o n t r i v e d
a c l e v e r e x p e r i m e n t . F i r s t , h e t a u g h t
w o r k e r b e e s t o e a t f r o m a d i s h of s u g a r -
w a t e r t h a t w a s p l a c e d w e s t o f t h e i r h i v e .
T h e b e e s w e r e t a u g h t t o d o t h i s i n t h e
m o r n i n g , w h e n t h e s u n w a s i n t h e e a s t
e r n s k y . T h e n o n e n i g h t a f t e r t h e
b e e s h a d l e a r n e d t o f e e d a t t h e d i s h
D r . v o n F r i s c h m o v e d t h e h i v e w h i l e t h e
b e e s w e r e a s l e e p . A n d h e t u r n e d t h e h i v e
a r o u n d s o t h a t i t s e n t r a n c e p o i n t e d i n a
d i 'f f er e nt d i r e c t i o n . N e x t , D r . v o n F r i s c h
s e t o u t f o u r d i s h e s f illed w i t h s u g a r -
w a t e r o n e t o t h e n o r t h o f t h e h i v e ,
o n e t o t h e e a s t , o n e t o t h e s o u t h a n d o n e
t o t h e w e s t .
X FLOWERS
\
\
\
V
HIVE
DANCE
SUN
v .
m
T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e s u n r o s e b r i g h t
i n t h e e a s t . D r . v o n F r i s c h c o u n t e d t h e
w o r k e r b e e s a s t h e y w i n g e d f r o m t h e
h i v e . T h e r e w e r e t w e n t y - n i n e . H e a l s o
c o u n t e d t h e n u m b e r o f b e e s t h a t r e a c h e d
e a c h d i s h . T w e n t y f o u n d t h e i r w a y t o
t h e d i s h t h a t w a s w e s t o f t h e h i v e .
W h a t d i d t h e e x p e r i m e n t t e l l D r . v o n
F r i s c h ? I t t o l d h i m t h a t t h e b e e s h a d
l e a r n e d t o f l y away
f r o m
t h e s u n t o r e a c h
f o o d .
B u t o n e p u z z l e r e m a i n e d f o r D r . v o n
F r i s c h t o s o l v e . H o w
H o w d o b e e s , . , , ,
. . d i d w o r k e r b e e s , r e -
communica te?
t u r n i n g t o t h e h i v e ,
" t e l l " o t h e r w o r k e r b e e s w h e r e t h e s u g a r -
w a t e r d i s h w a s l o c a t e d ? D r . v o n F r i s c h
h a d o b s e r v e d t h a t v e r y s o o n a f t e r
w o r k e r b e e s r e t u r n e d t o t h e h i v e , o t h e r s
flew o u t . T h e s e b e e s , w h o h a d n e v e r
b e e n t o t h e s u g a r d i s h , s o m e h o w w e r e
1 4
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X
>
Dance of the bee shows other
bees in hive the distance and
direction of nearest flow ers .
Center line of bee's dance
pattern tells direction of feed
ing place according to angle
ofsun.Dancing bee performs
on wall of comb.
a b l e t o find i t w i t h o u t b e i n g l e d b y t h e
b e e s w h o h a d f o u n d t h e d i s h i n t h e first
p l a c e
A f t e r c a r e f u l l y w a t c h i n g b e e s f o r
m a n y d a y s , D r . v o n F r i s c h o b s e r v e d t h a t
r e t u r n i n g b e e s d i d a s t r a n g e " d a n c e . "
A n d t h e d a n c e w a s n o t a l w a y s t h e s a m e .
C o u l d t h e d a n c e b e a w a y o f " t e l l i n g "
w h e r e f o o d w a s t o b e f o u n d ? M o r e d a y s
p a s s e d a s D r . v o n F r i s c h n o t e d e a c h
k i n d o f d a n c e a n d t h e e f f e c t i t h a d o n
b e e s t h a t w e r e a b o u t t o l e a v e t h e h i v e .
D r . v o n F r i s c h d i s c o v e r e d t h a t w h e n
a w o r k e r b e e r e t u r n s t o t h e h i v e , o t h e r
w o r k e r s c r o w d a r o u n d i t. T h e " s t a y -a t -
h o m e " w o r k e r s p u t t h e i r d e l i c a t e a n
t e n n a e o n t h e b o d y o f t h e s c o u t b e e . T h e
s c o u t t h e n d o e s i t s " d a n c e " o n t h e w a l l
o f t h e h o n e y c o m b . D r . v o n F r i s c h f o u n d
t h a t w h e n t h e s c o u t " w a g g l e s " s t r a i g h t
u p t h e s i d e o f t h e c o m b , t h e o t h e r b e e s
w i l l fly o ff i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e s u n
t o t h e e a s t i n t h e m o r n i n g , t o t h e w e s t i n
t h e a f t e r n o o n . B u t if t h e s c o u t " w a g g l e s "
s t r a i g h t d o w n t h e c o m b , t h e o t h e r
w o r k e r b e e s w i n g o u t o f t h e h i v e i n a
d i r e c t i o n
opposite
t o t h a t o f t h e s u n
w e s t i n t h e m o r n i n g a n d e a s t i n t h e
after
n o o n . W h a t ' s m o r e , if t h e s c o u t " w a g
g l e s " i n a l i n e t h a t i s s l a n t e d n o t
s t r a i g h t u p o r s t r a i g h t d o w n i t i s
" t e l l i n g " t h e o t h e r w o r k e r b e e s t h a t food
i s t o b e f o u n d a l i t t l e s o u t h o r n o r t h o f
e a s t o r w e s t .
N o t a l l b e e s a r e a b l e t o " t e l l " o t h e r
b e e s w h e r e t o find f o o d . O n l y " h i g h e r "
b e e s c a n d o t h i s . A n d t h e h i g h e s t f o r m s
o f b e e s u s e a " s o u n d " l a n g u a g e , a s w e l l
a s a " d a n c i n g " l a n g u a g e , t o t e l l w h e r e
f o o d i s. T h i s s o u n d l a n g u a g e w a s d i s c o v
e r e d i n 1 9 6 5 b y s c i e n t i s t s s t u d y i n g b e e s
i n B r a z i l . T h e s c i e n t i s t s r e c o r d e d t h e
b u z z i n g " s o n g s o f w o r k e r b e e s o n t h e i r
w a y b a c k f r o m f o o d " s t a t i o n s . " T h e s ta
t i o n s w e r e d i s h e s o f f o o d t h a t t h e s c i e n
t i s t s h a d s e t o u t n e a r t h e h i v e . L a t e r ,
t h e s o n g s w e r e p l a y e d o v e r a l o u d
s p e a k e r . W h a t h a p p e n e d ? W h e n t h e
b e e s h e a r d t h e s o n g , t h e y f lew o u t o f t h e
h i v e t o w a r d t h e v e r y s t a t i o n w h e r e t h e
s o n g h a d b e e n r e c o r d e d
I f a n e n e m y s t r i k e s , t h e w o r k e r b e e flies
t o t h e a t t a c k , d r i v i n g
i t s s t i n g e r d e e p i n t o i t s
v i c t i m ' s fle sh . B u t a s
t h e b e e p u l l s a w a y ,
t h e l i t t l e b a r b s o n t h e s t i n g e r h o l d f a s t .
Why does a
bee die when
it stings?
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T h e s t i n g e r is p u l l e d o u t o f t h e b e e ' s
b o d y , l e a v i n g i t t o r n a n d d y i n g . A l
t h o u g h a b e e s t i n g m e a n s p a i n f o r t h e
v i c t i m , i t m e a n s d e a t h f o r t h e h o n e y b e e .
N o m a t t e r w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e w o r k
e r s , l if e i n t h e h i v e g o e s o n . T h e n e w
b a b i e s r e c e i v e t h e i r t w o d a y s of r o y a l
j e l l y f o l l o w e d b y p o l l e n a n d h o n e y . B u t
t h e l a r v a i n t h e q u e e n c e l l c o n t i n u e s t o
g e t r o y a l j e l l y e v e r y d a y . T h i s m a k e s a
w o n d e r f u l c h a n g e . I n s t e a d o f a r e g u l a r -
s i z e d w o r k e r , u n a b l e t o l a y e g g s , t h e
d i e t o f r o y a l j e l l y w i l l p r o d u c e a s l e e k
n e w q u e e n .
E v e n t h o u g h t h e q u e e n h a s n o t y e t
l e ft h e r c o c o o n , a s t r a n g e s o u n d is c o m
i n g f r o m h e r c el l . I t c a n b e h e a r d a b o v e
t h e s o n g o f t h e h i v e .
A n e w p r i n c e s s i s a b o u t t o b e b o r n .
A queen honeybee emerges from the irreg
ular wax cell in which she has developed.
T h e C a p t i v e Q u e e n
What does the new
queen look like?
T h e n e w q u e e n is o n e t h i r d l a r g e r t h a n
t h e w o r k e r s .
H e r l e g s l a c k
t h e i r t o o l s a n d
c o m b s . H e r w i n g s a r e f o l d e d a n d d a m p
a g a i n s t h e r b o d y , b u t t h e y a r e v i b r a t i n g
w i t h a h i g h - p i t c h e d h u m t h a t p i e r c e s
t h e w a l l s o f t h e h i v e . Q u i c k l y s h e b i t e s
a t t h e t o p o f h e r c o c o o n a n d t h e c a p o f
h e r q u e e n c e l l .
A t l a s t s h e i s f r e e . S c a r c e l y w a i t i n g
f o r h e r w i n g s t o d r y , s h e r u s h e s o v e r
t h e b r o o d c o m b . T h e w o r k e r s m a k e w a y
f o r h e r . F i n a l l y , s h e fin ds w h a t s h e i s
s e e k i n g . A n o t h e r q u e e n c e l l i s w a i t i n g .
F r o m i t, t o o , c o m e s t h e s t r a n g e s o n g .
T h e w o r k e r s s t a n d b y a s s h e t e a r s a t
t h e c a p u n t i l s h e h a s o p e n e d i t . T h e n
s h e t h r u s t s h e r s t i n g d e e p , a g a i n a n d
a g a i n . U n l i k e t h e w o r k e r s , s h e c a n u s e
h e r l o n g , c u r v e d s t i n g m a n y t i m e s . B u t
s h e u s e s i t o n l y a g a i n s t o t h e r q u e e n s .
I f t w o q u e e n s e m e r g e f r o m c o c o o n s
a t t h e s a m e i n s t a n t , t h e r e is a d u e l . T h e
i n s e c t s t h r u s t a t e a c h o t h e r w i t h t h e i r
s h a r p s t i n g s u n t i l o n l y o n e o f t h e q u e e n s
i s l e f t a l i v e .
Why does she kill
her sister queens?
S h e c a n n o m o r e s t o p f r o m s t i n g i n g h e r
s i s t e r q u e e n s t h a n
t h e w o r k e r s c a n
s t o p g a t h e r i n g i n
t h e fields. " O n e q u e e n p e r h i v e " i s t h e
r u l e t h a t s h e m u s t f o l l o w . S h e m a y h a v e
s i x o r e i g h t o t h e r q u e e n s s e e k i n g t o
d e s t r o y h e r i f s h e a l l o w s t h e m t o l i v e .
O n l y a f t e r s h e h a s m a d e s u r e t h a t s h e
i s t h e o n l y q u e e n b e e i n t h e h i v e d o e s
s h e f inal ly s t o p t o re s t .
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QUEEN BEE
(ACTUAL SIZE)
One queen per hive
is the rule she must fol
low. If two queens
emerge from their co
coons at the same in
stant, a battle to the
death develops. Here
two queens duel it out.
I f t h e r e i s o n l y a s i n g l e q u e e n f o r e a c h
h i v e , w h a t w i l l h a p -
W h at h ap p en s
w h e n h e m e e t
t o t h e o l d f ,
n
., , h e r q u e e n m o t h e r ?
q u e e n m o t h e r ?
J
1
T o fin d t h e a n s w e r
w e h a v e t o g o b a c k a f e w d a y s . T h e
q u e e n m o t h e r p u t a n o r m a l e g g i n t o
e a c h s p e c i a l c e l l a s s h e c a m e t o i t . F e d
o n l y r o y a l j e l l y b y t h e w o r k e r s , e a c h
o n e d e v e l o p e d i n t o a q u e e n l a r v a . T h e n ,
a s t h e t i m e c a m e n e a r f o r t h e i r e m e r
g e n c e a s n e w q u e e n s , a c h a n g e c a m e
o v e r t h e e n t i r e h i v e .
G o n e i s t h e o l d n e e d t o s p e n d e v e r y
m o m e n t w o r k i n g i n t h e fields. E v e n t h e
q u e e n m o t h e r ' s c o n s t a n t j o b o f l a y i n g
e g g s i s f o r g o t t e n . T e a r i n g o p e n t h e c a p s
o f t h e h o n e y c o m b , t h o u s a n d s o f b e e s
d r i n k s o d e e p l y t h a t t h e y b e c o m e
s tu f fe d . T h i s i s p r o b a b l y a w i s e p r o v i
s i o n b y n a t u r e f o r t h e t i m e a h e a d . F o r
t h i s i s k n o w n a s t h e t i m e o f t h e s w a r m .
T h e q u e e n m o t h e r a n d s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d
o f h e r f a m i l y w i l l l e a v e t h e h i v e f o r e v e r
t o find a n e w h o m e .
T h e w o r k e r s a r e s o f u ll t h a t s o m e o f
t h e m c a n h a r d l y fly. M a n y , l i k e t h e f a t
m a n w h o c o u l d n ' t b e n d o v e r t o t i e h i s
o w n s h o e , a r e u n a b l e t o c u r v e t h e i r
a b d o m e n s e n o u g h t o u s e t h e i r s t in g s . I n
f a c t , t h e y s e e m t o o g o o d - n a t u r e d t o
s t i n g . T h e s o n g o f t h e h i v e r i s e s t o a
n e w p i t c h . E v e r y t h i n g is i n p r e p a r a t i o n
f o r a g r e a t a d v e n t u r e .
What is a
sw ar m d ay ?
F i n a l l y t h e g r e a t d a y c o m e s . T h e s u n
i s s h i n i n g a n d t h e
w e a t h e r i s
f a i r t h e
b e e k e e p e r s c a l l i t a
" s w a r m d a y . " T h e b e e s fly o u t b y t h e
h u n d r e d s a n d t h o u s a n d s . A w a y t h e y g o
t o a n e a r b y t r e e o r b u s h w h e r e t h e y
c l u s t e r i n a c l o s e m a s s . T h e o n e s o n t h e
o u t s i d e of t h e m a s s o p e n l i t t l e s c e n t -
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Bees are easily irritated, but they will often allow
themselves to be handled this way on swarm days.
g l a n d s o n t h e i r a b d o m e n a n d f a n t h e
s c e n t o u t i n t o t h e a i r w i t h t h e i r w i n g s .
T h e y d o t h i s t o g u i d e o t h e r s t o t h e s p o t ,
j u s t a s t h e y o f t e n d o w h e n t h e y fin d a
r i c h s o u r c e o f n e c t a r o r a c l u s t e r o f
flowers.
T h e c l u s t e r e d s w a r m i s t h i c k a n d
h e a v y . I t c a n o f t e n b e s h a k e n f r o m t h e
b u s h i n t o a n e m p t y h i v e l i k e a h u g e
b u n c h o f o v e r r i p e g r a p e s . S o m e w h e r e
i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e s w a r m i s t h e q u e e n
m o t h e r . S o o n s o m e b e e s h a v e f o u n d a
1 8
h o l l o w t r e e o r e m p t y h i v e . T h e s w a r m
f o l l o w s t h e m t o t h e n e w h o m e .
S o m e t i m e s t h e b e e k e e p e r w i s h e s t o
find t h e q u e e n . T h e n h e m a y s h a k e t h e
s w a r m i n t o a t u b o f w a t e r . A s t h e b e e s
b e g i n t o s w i m t o w a r d t h e s i d e s , h e c a n
u s u a l l y find h e r b y h e r l a r g e s i z e . O c c a
s i o n a l l y , h e d i s c o v e r s t h a t t h e b e e s
h a v e s w a r m e d w i t h o u t h e r . T h i s i s l i k e
h a v i n g a b i r t h d a y p a r t y f o r s o m e o n e
w h o d i d n ' t g e t i n v i t e d . T h e s w a r m c a n
n o t l i v e m o r e t h a n a f e w d a y s w i t h o u t
i t s q u e e n . O n l y s h e c a n l a y t h e e g g s t o
p r o d u c e n e w w o r k e r s .
T h e
q u e e n ,
How is the
queen like
a prisoner?
w h e t h e r i t i s t h e n e w
q u e e n b a c k i n t h e h i v e ,
o r t h e q u e e n m o t h e r i n
t h e s w a r m , i s n o t r e a l l y
a r u l e r . S h e is m o r e l i k e
a p r i s o n e r t h a n a q u e e n . S h e m u s t b e
f e d a n d c a r e d f o r b y h e r w o r k e r s . E x
c e p t f o r h e r s w a r m i n g a n d m a t i n g
flig hts, s h e n e v e r s e e s t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d .
T h e o l d q u e e n h a s l e ft . N o w t h e n e w
q u e e n p u s h e s t o w a r d t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e
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h i v e . A m o s t i m p o r t a n t j o b w a i t s f o r
h e r . A t l a s t t h e d r o n e s w i l l g e t a c h a n c e
t o d o t h e i r p a r t . S h e t a k e s of f o n h e r
n e w w i n g s , c i r c l i n g a r o u n d a n d a r o u n d .
T h e d r o n e s f o l l o w . S o m e t i m e s s h e g o e s
o u t o f s i g h t .
F i n a l l y s h e m a t e s w i t h o n e o f t h e
d r o n e s . S h e m a y
W h a t h a p p e n s
c h o o g e Q n e f r o m a n
_
to the drones
,
.
r
, . , , _ o t h e r h i v e a s t a r a s
a f t e r m a t i n g ?
n i n e m i l e s a w a y . T h e
m i l l i o n s o f t i n y s p e r m c e l l s f r o m t h e
d r o n e ' s b o d y a r e p l a c e d i n a p o u c h i n
t h e q u e e n ' s a b d o m e n . H i s w o r k d o n e a t
l a s t , t h e d r o n e s o o n d i e s . T h e o t h e r
d r o n e s a r e d r i v e n f r o m t h e h i v e w h e n
t h e f o o d s u p p l y g e t s l o w i n t h e f a l l .
B a c k i n t h e h i v e , s h e b e c o m e s t h e n e w
q u e e n m o t h e r . D a y
H o w m a n y e g g s
a f t e r d a y h e J a y s
t h o u s a n d s o f e g g s
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ o f t e n f o u r o r fiv e
t h o u s a n d a d a y . S u c h e g g p r o d u c t i o n i s
a g r e a t t a s k . S o s h e i s f e d b y t h e w o r k -
does the new
queen produce?
e r s a l m o s t c o n s t a n t l y . T h e y f e e d h e r
a n d l i c k h e r , c a r i n g f o r h e r e v e r y n e e d .
P e r h a p s t h i s l i c k i n g a n d p a s s i n g a r o u n d
m a t e r i a l f r o m h e r
W h a t h a p p e n s
b o d s e r y e s t Q
if the queen , , , .
i s t a k e n a w a y ?
k e e
P
t h e
^ S
0 i n
g
s m o o t h l y . I f t h e
q u e e n is t a k e n a w a y o r d i e s , t h e w o r k
e r s c r e a t e a n e w q u e e n b y e n l a r g i n g a
c e l l a n d k e e p i n g o n e o f t h e n e w b o r n
b a b i e s o n a s t e a d y r o y a l j e l l y d i e t . I f
t h i s d o e s n ' t w o r k , t h e w o r k e r s t h e m
s e l v e s m a n a g e t o l a y a f e w e g g s , b u t
t h e s e d e v e l o p o n l y i n t o d r o n e s . T h e n
t h e h i v e , w i t h o u t a q u e e n , s o o n d i e s .
A queen laying eggs.
I f n o t h i n g h a p p e n s t o t h e q u e e n , s h e
m a y l i v e w i t h h e r
H o w l o n g d o e s , . . , * *
.. i. o h u g e f a m i l y f o r f o u r
t h e q u e e n live?
b J
o r five y e a r s . D u r i n g
t h i s t i m e s h e m a y l a y a m i l l i o n e g g s .
W h a t a d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h e q u e e n
m o t h e r a n d t h e s i n g l e m o t h w h o l e a v e s
a f e w e g g s o n a t w i g i n t h e f a l l
B u t t h e r e a r e m a n y o t h e r b e e s , t o o .
T h e y l i v e i n i n t e r e s t i n g p l a c e s o l d
m o u s e n e s t s , h o l l o w c h u n k s o f w o o d ,
e v e n t i n c a n s . T h e i r s t o r y w i l l b e t o l d
i n t h e n e x t c h a p t e r .
Attendants constantly surround the queen. When she
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B e e s W i t h o u t a H i v e
A b e e t h a t d o e s n ' t s t i n g I t i s h a r d
t o b e l i e v e , b u t t h e r e a r e b e e s i n S o u t h
A m e r i c a t h a t n e v e r s t i n g a t a l l. T h e y
l i v e i n c o l o n i e s , o r l a r g e f a m i l i e s , j u s t
l i k e t h e h o n e y b e e s . I n s t e a d o f l i v i n g i n
a m a n - m a d e h i v e , t h e y m a k e t h e i r
h o m e s i n h o l l o w t r e e s o r c a v e s . H e r e
t h e y b u i l d c o m b s o u t o f w a x a n d c l a y
o r f r o m t h e s t i c k y r e s i n o f t r e e s .
How do st ingless
bees f igh t enemies?
S i n c e t h e y d o n ' t s t i n g , t h e y h a v e a d i f
f e r e n t w a y o f
p r o t e c t i n g t h e i r
l i t t l e h o n e y -
p o t s a n d t h e l a r v a e i n t h e c e l ls . W h e n
a n e n e m y c o m e s , t h e y fly a l l o v e r i t ,
b i t i n g a n d s c r a t c h i n g . S t r o n g fluid f r o m
t h e i r m o u t h s a n d b o d i e s c a u s e s a b u r n
i n g s e n s a t i o n . I t f e e l s a l m o s t l i k e
s p a t t e r i n g g r e a s e . B u t e v e n s o , S o u t h
A m e r i c a n n a t i v e s o f t e n k e e p t h e m i n
l i tt l e " d r u m s . " T h e s e a r e m a d e of a h o l
l o w lo g w i t h b o t h e n d s s e a l e d , e x c e p t
f o r a l i t t l e h o l e f o r t h e b e e s t o e n t e r .
W h e n t h e n a t i v e s w a n t s o m e h o n e y ,
t h e y j u s t b r e a k o p e n t h e e n d of a d r u m .
O f t e n t h i s h o n e y is d e l i c i o u s . B u t
s o m e t i m e s i t i s n o t . T h e s t in g l e s s b e e s
v i s i t a l l k i n d s o f f lo w er s. I f t h e r e a r e n ' t
e n o u g h flow ers a v a i l a b l e , t h e y t a k e t h e
n e x t b e s t t h i n g . T h i s m a y b e a m o l a s s e s
c a n o r a n o l d g r a p e f r u i t p e e l , w i t h a
d r o p o r t w o o f m o t o r o i l f o r v a r i e t y . A
S o u t h A m e r i c a n m e a l w i t h n a t i v e h o n e y
m u s t b e f u l l o f s u r p r i s e s
T h e h o n e y b e e a n d t h e s t i n g l e s s b e e s
t a k e c a r e o f t h e
How is a q u e e n
e g g ] a i d b y
^
q u e e n . B u t m a n y of
t h e o t h e r k i n d s o f
q u e e n s t a k e c a r e o f t h e i r o w n e g g s . O n e
o f t h e s t r a n g e s t is t h e q u e e n b u m b l e
b e e . S h e s i t s o n h e r e g g s i n t h e s p r i n g
bum b l ebee l i ke
a mother b i rd?
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l i k e a l i t t l e b i r d . A l l w i n t e r l o n g s h e
r e m a i n s i n a s h e l t e r e d s p o t , h i d d e n f r o m
t h e c o l d a n d s t o r m . W h e n s p r i n g c o m e s
a t l a s t , s h e g o e s h o u s e - h u n t i n g . S h e
flies o v e r t h e m e a d o w , l o o k i n g f o r a
l i t t l e h o l l o w in t h e g r o u n d . S o m e t i m e s
s h e e v e n u s e s a n o l d m o u s e n e s t o r a
h a l f - h id d en t i n c a n .
S h e m a k e s t w o w a x ce l ls . O n e o f
t h e m i s h e r h o n e y p o t . S h e fills i t w i t h
h o n e y s h e h a s m a d e f r o m t h e e a r l y
An apiary (a place where bees are kept)
set in a landscape with fruit trees is al
ways an interesting sight. The large
bo xe s are actually modern beehives.
They have replaced the less practical
straw skeps (inset at right) that were
used for a long time throughout the whole
world. The movable frames of the mod
ern hive (cross section on page 20) is
much more convenient for the beekeeper
and for the bees as well. The queen and
the young can get only to section B ,
leaving the honey in the top combs un
disturbed for the keeper.
s p r i n g flow ers. T h e o t h e r i s h e r b r o o d
c e l l . A b o u t e i g h t e g g s g o i n t o i t , o f t e n
o n a l i t t l e p a d o f p o l l e n t h a t w i l l s e r v e
a s f o o d . T h e n s h e c a p s i t o v e r w i t h w a x
a n d s e t t l e s d o w n o n t o p o f it .
F o r t h e q u e e n b u m b l e b e e , b a b y s i t
t i n g i s n o p r o b l e m . W h e n t h e l a r v a e
h a t c h i n t h r e e o r f o u r d a y s , s h e o p e n s
t h e i r c e l l t o f e e d t h e m . B u t w h e n t h e y
a r e f e d , s h e c l o s e s i t u p a g a i n . S h e m a y
d o t h i s s e v e r a l t i m e s a d a y , flying a w a y
f o r m o r e f o o d i n b e t w e e n .
Close-up of the head of
a stingless bee and the
log shed in which Mexi
can Indians of Yucatan
keep them.
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A queen bumblebee helps the young workers
out of their cells. Creeping to the honeypots,
they help themselves.
W h e n s h e l e a v e s h o m e , s h e m a y g e t
i n t o a l l k i n d s o f t r o u -
W h a t a r e t h e
b l e S o m e k i n d s o f
bumblebee's
,
.
,
. . .
. .
. _ b i r d s l ike t o e a t b u m -
e n e m i e s ?
b l e b e e s s t i n g a n d
a l l . A h u g e r o b b e r fly, l o o k i n g l i k e a
b u m b l e b e e i ts e l f , m a y l i e w a i t i n g i n a
flow er, r e a d y t o c a t c h h e r . S o m e t i m e s
s h e c o m e s a c r o s s t h e n e s t o f a n o t h e r
b u m b l e b e e . I n s h e g o e s , j u s t a s if i t w e r e
h e r o w n h o m e . S h e m a y e v e n d r i v e o u t
t h e r i g h t f u l q u e e n a n d s e t t l e d o w n o n
t h e e g g s h e r s e l f . T h i s i s h a r d o n t h e
b a b i e s b a c k a t h e r o w n h o m e . S o m e
t i m e s t h e h o m e l e s s q u e e n finds t h e u n o c
c u p i e d n e s t a n d b e g i n s t o t a k e c a r e o f it .
T h u s t h e t w o " m o t h e r s " h a v e s w i t c h e d
n e s t s . M o r e o f t e n , a n u n p r o t e c t e d n e s t
i s f o u n d b y a m o u s e t h a t h e l p s i t se l f t o
t h e t e n d e r b a b y b e e s a n d h o n e y .
What are
callows ?
T h e q u e e n h e l p s t h e n e w w o r k e r s , c a l l e d
" c a l l o w s , " o u t o f t h e i r
c e l l s . N o w t h e y a r e
a b o u t t h r e e w e e k s o l d .
T h e y a r e w e t a n d s i l v e r - l o o k i n g a t first
h a r d l y l i k e t h e f u z z y b l a c k a n d y e l
l o w q u e e n . C r e e p i n g t o t h e h o n e y p o t ,
t h e y h e l p t h e m s e l v e s . I n a d a y o r t w o ,
t h e y a r e fly in g o v e r t h e fie ld s. S o m e
t i m e s t h e y a r e c a u g h t i n a s h o w e r , b u t
t h e y j u s t g o i n s i d e a h a n g i n g flo wer.
I t s h e l t e r s t h e m l i k e a s w e e t - s c e n t e d
u m b r e l l a .
B u m b l e b e e s s e l d o m s t i n g . T h e y a r e
p e a c e f u l , h a r d - w o r k i n g c r e a t u r e s , b u t
t h e y c a n s t i n g a g a i n a n d a g a i n w h e n
LARVAE IN S
Only the bumblebee,
which can reach the
nectar, is able to pol
linate red clover.
n e c e s s a r y . T h e y a t t a c k b y c l a w i n g , b it
i n g a n d s c r a t c h i n g . A l t h o u g h t h e r e
m a y b e o n l y a f e w h u n d r e d b u m b l e b e e s
i n a c o l o n y , w i t h o n l y fiftee n o r t w e n t y
a t h o m e a t a t i m e , f e w c r e a t u r e s m a k e
a n e f f o r t t o s t e a l t h e h o n e y f r o m t h e
l i t t l e w a x e n p o t s .
S t r a n g e a s i t s e e m s , e v e n t h e h o n e y i s
u s e d f o r d e f e n s e b y
s o m e k i n d s o f b u m
b l e b e e s . I f a n e n e m y
a t t a c k s , a b u m b l e b e e
q u i e t l y w a l k s u p t o it ,
a d r o p o f h o n e y o n i t s t o n g u e . T h e n
t h e b e e p l a s t e r s t h e i n t r u d e r w i t h t h e
g l u e y s t uf f . M e s s y a n d d r i p p i n g , t h e
e n e m y r e t r e a t s a s f a s t a s i t s s t i c k y f e e t
w i l l l e t i t .
How is honey
used by bees
for defense?
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T h e j a w s o f t h e c a r p e n t e r b e e a r e s t r o n g
l i t t l e t o o l s . T h e b e e
.
0
i t s e l f l o o k s l i k e a
carpenter bee?
b u m b l e b e e , b u t
m a k e s i t s h o m e i n w o o d . H o l l o w i n g o u t
a t u n n e l i n a b e a m o r b o a r d w i t h i t s
j a w s , i t b u i l d s a l i t t l e c h a m b e r f o r i t s
e g g s . S o m e t i m e s t h e s e t u n n e l s m a y
t w i s t a n d t u r n t h r o u g h l u m b e r f o r e i g h t
o r t e n f e e t . S o m e c a r p e n t e r b e e s s a v e
t h e m s e l v e s a l o t o f w o r k . T h e y b u i l d
t h e i r n e s t s i n h o l l o w b a m b o o s t e m s .
T h u s t h e t u n n e l i s a l r e a d y m a d e f o r
t h e m t o l i v e i n .
T h e j a w s o f m a s o n b e e s b i t e t h r o u g h
s a n d a n d c l a y . T h e
m o t h e r b u i l d s h e r
n e s t o u t o f m u d a n d
fills i t w i t h p o l l e n
a n d n e c t a r . T h e m u d h a r d e n s u n t i l i t
i s l i k e s t o n e . T h e l a r v a e i n s i d e f e e d a n d
H o w d o m a s o n
bees bu i ld
the i r homes?
c a r e f o r t h e m s e l v e s . F i n a l l y , w h e n t h e y
a r e r e a d y t o e m e r g e , e a c h o n e b i t e s
t h r o u g h t h e h a r d w a l l s o f i t s h o m e a n d
c o m e s i n t o t h e w o r l d .
S o m e t i m e s A f r i c a n e x p l o r e r s c o m e
a c r o s s t h e r u i n s o f a n a n c i e n t c i t y . T h e
w a l l s a r e c o v e r e d w i t h t h e h a r d p l a s t e r
o f t h e m a s o n b e e s . T h e e x p l o r e r s c h i p
a w a y a t i t , s c r a p i n g c a r e f u l l y . S o m e
t i m e s , a f t e r t h e y h a v e r e m o v e d i t , t h e y
c o m e t o n o t h i n g b u t a b l a n k w a l l . O t h e r
t i m e s , t h e y c o m e t o a n c i e n t w r i t i n g s o r
s t o n e - p i c t u r e s . T h e s e i m p o r t a n t findings
h a v e b e e n h i d d e n f o r m a n y c e n t u r i e s b y
t h e w o r k o f t h e s e l i t t l e c e m e n t - m a k e r s ,
t h e m a s o n b e e s .
H o w m a n y k i n d s o f
bees a re kn ow n?
T h e r e a r e a b o u t t e n t h o u s a n d k i n d s o f
b e e s k n o w n i n
t h e w o r l d t o
d a y . O n l y a
f e w o f t h e m a r e s o c i a l k i n d s l i v i n g i n
f a m i l ie s . T h e r e a r e " c u c k o o " b e e s t h a t
s n e a k i n t o n e s t s o f o t h e r b e e s a n d l a y
t h e i r e g g s . O t h e r s s t e a l h o n e y t o f e e d
t h e i r o w n y o u n g . B u r r o w i n g b e e s m a k e
h o l e s i n t h e g r o u n d . S w e a t b e e s c l i n g t o
m e n a n d a n i m a l s i n s u m m e r , l a p p i n g
t h e s w e a t f r o m t h e i r b o d i e s . L e a f c u t -
t i n g b e e s t r i m s l ic e s o f l e a v e s t h a t t h e y
p a s t e t o g e t h e r f o r t h e i r h o m e s .
T o t e l l t h e s t o r i e s o f a l l t h e b e e s
w o u l d t a k e m a n y b o o k s . B u t t h e r e a r e
m a n y m o r e k i n d s o f s o c i a l i n s e c t s . T h e
n e x t c h a p t e r w i l l t e l l a b o u t t h e w o n d e r
f u l w o r l d of w a s p s , r e g a r d e d a s a m o n g
t h e m o s t i n t e l l i g e n t o f i n s e c t s .
CARPEMTER
, BEE
MASON BE
LEAFCUTTER NEST
LEAFCUTTING BEE
BURROWING BE
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NEST OF POTTER WASP
W A S P S
T h e H e l p f u l W a s p s
POTTER WASP CARRY
>' MUD TO BUILDING J
What is a
fig wasp?
N e a r l y e v e r y b o d y l i k e s fig b a r s . T h e r e
w o u l d n ' t b e a s i n g l e o n e
if i t w e r e n ' t f o r t h e t i n y
fig w a s p . S h e w a n d e r s
a r o u n d o n t h e b l o s s o m o f t h e fig,
s p r e a d i n g t h e p o l l e n a n d m a k i n g i t p o s
s i b l e f o r t h e f r u i t t o d e v e l o p . H e r y o u n g
h a t c h o u t a n d s ee k n e w b l o s s o m s . T h i s
v a l u a b l e i n s e c t w a s a c t u a l l y i m p o r t e d
i n t o C a l i f o r n i a f o r t h e p r o d u c t i o n o f
S m y r n a fig s.
u n s e e n . S o m e o f t h e i r r e l a t i v e s , t h e
h o r n t a i l s a n d s a w f li e s , a t t a c k t r e e s a n d
f r u i t , b u t a g r e a t m a n y o f t h e t r u e w a s p s
a r e a s u s e f u l a s h o n e y b e e s .
T h e t o m a t o h o r n w o r m c a t e r p i l l a r i s a
b a d g a r d e n p e s t . I t
f e e d s o n t h e l e a v e s
o f t o m a t o v i n e s a n d
d a m a g e s t h e b l o s s o m s . A t i n y w a s p , t h e
How do wasps
help farmers?
T h e r e a r e a b o u t t e n t h o u s a n d k i n d s o f
w a s p s . O n l y a
f e w o f t h e m
a r e s o c i a l .
M o s t o f t h e m l i v e t h e i r l i v e s q u i e t l y a n d
CATERPILLAR WASP
DRAGGING CATERPILLAR
How many kinds of
wasps are there?
BRACONID (ENL
HORNTAIL
ICHNEUMON FLY
b r a c o n i d , p o k e s h e r s h a r p a b d o m e n
i n t o t h e c a t e r p i l l a r s e v e r a l t i m e s . E a c h
t h r u s t m a y r e l e a s e a d o z e n e g g s . T h e
y o u n g f e e d o n t h e p e s t , finally c o m i n g
o u t s i d e t o m a k e t h e i r l i t t l e c o c o o n s .
T h e c a t e r p i l l a r s o o n d i e s .
O t h e r b r a c o n i d w a s p s c a n p r o d u c e
a w h o l e f a m i l y w i t h j u s t o n e e g g . T h i s
i s d o n e w h e n a c e r t a i n w a s p finds t h e
At left, the nest of a mason
wasp; above, the insect itself.
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c a t e r p i l l a r o f h a r m f u l f r u i t m o t h s o r
c o r n b o r e r s . A l t h o u g h s h e i s t i n y , h e r
a m a z i n g e g g m a k e s u p f o r h e r l a c k o f
s i z e . A f t e r s h e l a y s i t , i t b e g i n s t o d i v i d e
i n t o m a n y l i t t l e c e l l - g r o u p s . E a c h g r o u p
p r o d u c e s a h u n g r y l a r v a . I t f e e d s o n
t h e b o d y o f t h e c a t e r p i l l a r . T h e n j u s t a s
t h e c a t e r p i l l a r d i e s , t h e n e w b o r n w a s p s
f l y a w a y .
HAWK WASP KILLING TARANTULA
A mud-dauber nest and wasps and two opened cells
CICADA-KILLER DRAGGING CICADA
w a s p d r i l l s u n t i l s h e c o m e s t o t h e t u n
n e l o f a w o o d b o r e r , t h e r e a l v i l l a i n .
T h e w a s p ' s l a r v a , h a t c h i n g o u t , w i l l d e
s t r o y t h e w o o d b o r e r b e f o r e i t c a n k i l l
a n y m o r e t r e e s .
A s i n g l e e g g m a y p r o d u c e f if ty o r
m o r e w a s p s . T h e n if e a c h w a s p p r o
d u c e s fifty m o r e , t h e r e w i l l b e t w e n t y -
five h u n d r e d w a s p s i n a f e w w e e k s , a l l
l o o k i n g f o r f r u i t m o t h s .
A h u g e i c h n e u m o n w a s p g o e s flying
t h r o u g h t h e a i r . I t
W h y d o s o m e , .
. . . . s t o p s a t a d y i n g
w a s p s d r i l l
r
J
f
i n t o t r e e s ?
m a
P
l e t r e e
-
S l o w l
y
lt
c r a w l s o v e r t h e b a r k ,
t a p p i n g w i t h i t s a n t e n n a e . F i n a l l y i t
s t o p s a n d a r c h e s i t s b a c k . A l o n g t h r e a d
l i k e o r g a n , t h e ovipositor g o e s t o w o r k .
S h a r p - p o i n t e d a n d s t r o n g , i t d r i l l s d e e p
i n t o t h e w o o d .
O f t e n p e o p l e k i l l t h i s w a s p w h e n
t h e y s e e i t d r i l l i n g i n t o a t r e e . B u t t h i s
is j u s t w h a t s h o u l d n ' t b e d o n e . F o r t h e
S o m e w a s p s a r e e v e n h i t c h h i k e r s . O n e ,
k n o w n a s P h a n u r u s ,
W h a t w a s p is . , ,
I. * LL-I i r i d e s a r o u n d o n a
a h i t c h h i k e r ?
m o t h l i k e a m a n o n
a h o r s e . T h e n , w h e n t h e m o t h finally
l a y s i t s e g g s , t h e l i t t l e h i t c h h i k e r g e t s
o f f. S h e l a y s h e r o w n e g g s o n t h e m o t h
e g g s . B o t h m a y s t a r t t o d e v e l o p , b u t
i t i s o n l y t h e l i t t l e w a s p s t h a t h a t c h o u t
a n d f ly a w a y .
T h e B i b l e t e l l s o f p l a g u e s o f l o c u s t s ,
w h i c h s ti ll b o t h e r p e o p l e i n m a n y p a r t s
o f t h e w o r l d . W h e n t h e f e m a l e l o c u s t
l a y s h e r e g g s u n d e r g r o u n d , t h e S c e l i o
w a s p w a i t s n e a r b y . A s f a s t a s t h e l o c u s t
b u r i e s n e w eg g s , t h e w a s p p o k e s h e r
o v i p o s i t o r d o w n i n t o t h e m a n d l a y s
e g g s o f h e r o w n . T h e t w o m a y w o r k
s i d e b y s i d e t h e l o c u s t l a y i n g e g g s
a n d t h e w a s p d e s t r o y i n g t h e m .
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How do hunter
wasps feed
their young?
H u n t e r w a s p s c a t c h a n d p a r a l y z e
s p i d e r s w i t h a c a r e
f u l l y - p l a c e d s t i n g .
S a n d w a s p s d o t h e
s a m e w i t h c a t e r p i l
l a r s . T h e s p i d e r o r c a t e r p i l l a r i s t h e n
p l a c e d i n t h e c e l l o f t h e w a s p ' s n e s t .
T h r e e o r f o u r m o r e v i c t i m s m a y b e
a d d e d . T h e n t h e w a s p l a y s a n e g g . T h e
n e w l a r v a h a s f r e s h f o o d u n t i l i t b e
c o m e s f u l l y g r o w n .
M u d - d a u b e r w a s p s m a k e m a n y of
t h e i r h o m e s o u t o f m u d , a l m o s t l i k e t h e
m a s o n b e e s . O f t e n t h e y c a n b e s e e n
a g a i n s t t h e s i d e s o f b u i l d i n g s o r u n d e r
r o o f s . F i l l e d w i t h p a r a l y z e d s p i d e r s ,
e a c h c e l l o f t h e h o m e s o o n o p e n s t o
r e l e a s e a n e w w a s p . P o t t e r w a s p s m a k e
l i t t le m u d j u g s a n d s t o c k t h e m w i t h
c a t e r p i l l a r s .
H o w d o t h e w a s p s c a t c h t h e s p i d e r s ?
O f t e n a w a s p m a y h a n g b y o n e l e g
f r o m t h e w e b a n d s t i n g t h e s p i d e r w h e n
i t r u s h e s o u t t o c a t c h i t . T h e " t a r a n t u l a
h a w k " w a s p s t i n g s t h e h u g e , h a i r y
t a r a n t u l a a n d t h e n b u r i e s t h i s spider
w i t h t h e w a s p e g g .
S t r a n g e g r o w t h s a p p e a r o n t h e l e a v e s
a n d s t e m s o f p l a n t s .
wa
h
s
a t
s
d
do?
aM T h C y m a y l 0
k H k e
b r o w n a p p l e s , l i t t l e
p o r c u p i n e s , b i t s o f m o s s . M a n y o f t h e s e
a r e m a d e b y g a l l w a s p s . T h e f e m a l e
p o k e s h e r e g g s i n t o t h e p l a n t , w h i c h
t h e n f o r m s t h e g a l l . J u s t h o w i t f o r m s
i s n o t f u l ly u n d e r s t o o d . T h e l a r v a e f e e d
o n t h e m a t e r i a l i n s i d e t h e h o m e t h a t
t h e p l a n t h a s h e l p f u l l y m a d e . O f t e n
t h e y s p e n d t h e e n t i r e w i n t e r i n t h i s
s h e l t e r . E a c h k i n d of i n s e c t p r o d u c e s a
d e f i n i t e k i n d o f p l a n t g a l l .
N o n e of t h e w a s p s i n t h i s c h a p t e r a r e
t r u e s o c i a l i n s e c t s . B u t a f e w w a s p s l i v e
i n f a m i l i e s , l i k e t h e i r c o u s i n s t h e b e e s .
M o s t o f t h e m m a k e t h e i r h o m e s i n
p a p e r n e s t s .
T h e n e x t c h a p t e r w i l l d e s c r i b e w h a t
t a k e s p l a c e i n s i d e t h e w a l l s o f t h e s e
p a p e r p a l a c e s .
M b
Some typ ical insectgallsswollenplanttissue causedby the hatching of wasp eggs.
.
jLDENRODJI
GALL
BLACKBERRY
GALL
Oak gall wasp on leaf.
2 6
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T h e P a p e r P a l a c e
HEAD OF POLISTES WASP
(ENLARGED)
H o w l o n g a g o w a s t h e first p a p e r m a d e ?
W a s i t o v e r fiv e
h u n d r e d y e a r s
a g o , w h e n J o h a n n
a B i b l e i n 1 4 5 5 ?
When was paper
or iginal ly made?
G u t e n b e r g p r i n t e d
T w o t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o , w h e n t h e
C h i n e s e m a d e p a p e r f r o m m u l b e r r y
b a r k ? F o u r t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o , w h e n
t h e E g y p t i a n s w r o t e o n f lat s h e e t s f r o m
t h e p a p y r u s r e e d ? T h e t r u t h is t h a t
p a p e r w a s first m a d e
millions
o f y e a r s
a g o . N o h u m a n h a n d t o u c h e d t h a t first
s h e e t o f p a p e r . I t w a s p r o b a b l y m a n u
f a c t u r e d i n m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s i t i s
t o d a y b y a q u e e n w a s p , m a k i n g a
s h e l t e r f o r h e r e g g s a n d l a r v a e .
S h e g o e s t o a p i e c e o f d r i e d w o o d o n a
t r e e o r t h e s i d e o f a
H o w d o w a s p s .
T T
,
0
h o u s e . H e r s t r o n g
m a k e p a p e r ? .
6
l i t t l e j a w s w o r k like
s c i s so r s . S h e c u t s c h u n k s o f w o o d a n d
m i x e s t h e m w i t h h e r s a l i v a . G e t t i n g a l l
s h e c a n c a r r y , s h e s o m e t i m e s t u c k s
e x t r a p i e c e s " u n d e r h e r c h i n " b e t w e e n
h e r h e a d a n d first p a i r o f l e g s . T h e n
s h e flies b a c k t o h e r h o m e , c h e w i n g o n
t h e p i e c e s . W h e n s h e s p r e a d s o u t t h e
m i x t u r e , i t d r i e s t o a t o u g h p a p e r .
I t i s a m y s t e r y h o w s h e d e t e r m i n e s
w h e r e s h e w i l l p l a c e
h e r n e w h o m e . O f t e n
i t i s o n t h e e n d o f a
t r e e b r a n c h o r u n d e r
t h e r o o f o f a h o u s e . B u t s o m e t i m e s s h e
Where can
wasp nests
be found?
HEAD OF BALD-FACED HORNET
(ENLARGED)
c h o o s e s s t r a n g e p l a c e s . O n e w a s p n e s t
w a s b u i l t h i g h o n a f a c t o r y c h i m n e y ,
n e x t t o t h e w h i s t l e . E v e r y t i m e t h e
w h i s t l e b l e w , h u n d r e d s o f w a s p s b u z z e d
i n a l l d i r e c t i o n s . A n o t h e r n e s t w a s
m a d e in a c a r t h a t h a d b e e n i n a u s e d -
c a r l o t a l l s u m m e r . S t i l l a n o t h e r w a s
b u i l t o v e r a s c h o o l h o u s e d o o r . S c h o o l
c o u l d n ' t b e o p e n e d i n S e p t e m b e r u n t i l
t h e w a s p n e s t w a s r e m o v e d f r o m i t s u n
u s u a l l o c a t i o n .
What is a
hornet?
W h a t i s t h e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n a w a s p
a n d a h o r n e t ? H o r n e t s
a r e s h o r t , a c t i v e w a s p s
t h a t l i v e b y t h e h u n
d r e d s i n t h e i r p a p e r n e s t . " Y e l l o w -
j a c k e t s " a n d " w h i t e - f a c e d h o r n e t s " a r e
a c t u a l l y s p e c i a l k i n d s o f w a s p s .
J u s t l i k e t h e b e e s , t h e r e a r e w o r k e r s ,
d r o n e s a n d q u e e n s . B u t m o s t w a s p
p a p e r p a l a c e s l a s t o n l y a f e w m o n t h s .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a b e e h i v e m a y l a s t
f o r y e a r s .
T h e q u e e n c h e w s t h e w o o d u n t i l it
m a k e s a s t i c k y p a s t e . T h e n s h e p la s t e r s
i t o n t h e u n d e r s i d e o f a b r a n c h o r r o o f
o r t h e i n t e r i o r o f a n a n i m a l ' s d e n . E v e n
a f a m i l y of s k u n k s h a s t o m o v e o u t
w h e n t h e w a s p s m o v e i n .
S h e m a k e s a l i t t l e s i x - s i d e d p a p e r
c e l l . I t i s s h a l l o w a t first a n d h a n g s
d o w n w a r d . S h e p l a c e s a s i n g l e e g g i n
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A Polistes queen scrapes wood to make paper.
The first room of a Polistes' home looks upside down.
It is a cuplike cell attached to a paper stem. As soon
as it is completed, an egg is cemented into it.
t h e c e l l , c o v e r e d w i t h a s t i c k y m a t e r i a l
s o i t w o n ' t f a l l o u t . A f e w m o r e c e l l s
a n d e g g s c o m p l e t e h e r l i t t l e n e s t .
How do baby
wasps live?
W h e n t h e l a r v a e h a t c h o u t , t h e y a r e
l e g l e s s a n d b l i n d
l i k e t h e b e e l a r v a e .
O f t e n t h e y h a v e
s t i c k y " g l u e p a d s " o n t h e m t o h o l d
t h e m i n t h e i r u p s i d e - d o w n c r a d l e . T h e i r
m o t h e r c a t c h e s flies a n d o t h e r i n s e c t s
t o f e e d t h e m . S h e c h e w s u p t h e i n s e c t s
i n t o a l i t t l e b a l l . T h e n s h e h o l d s t h e b a l l
d o w n w h e r e t h e