. Manual of the apiary. Bees. 14 MANUAL OF THE APIABY. The workers also possess a natural weapon of defense, the sting (see Fig. 2), which they are free to use as occasion requires. The mechanism of this organ is very interesting. At its base is a double gland, which secretes the poison; which, when secreted, is poured into an ample poison sack (Fig. 2, c), which is as large as a flax seed. The sting proper is a triple organ, consisting of three sharp spears, very smooth and of exquisite polish, which lie side by side, and make up the sting a,s seen by the naked eye. The central lance (Fig. 2,
. Manual of the apiary. Bees. 14 MANUAL OF THE APIABY. The workers also possess a natural weapon of defense, the sting (see Fig. 2), which they are free to use as occasion requires. The mechanism of this organ is very interesting. At its base is a double gland, which secretes the poison; which, when secreted, is poured into an ample poison sack (Fig. 2, c), which is as large as a flax seed. The sting proper is a triple organ, consisting of three sharp spears, very smooth and of exquisite polish, which lie side by side, and make up the sting a,s seen by the naked eye. The central lance (Fig. 2, a) is hollow,—a little shorter than the others. The central opening connects with the poison sack, so that the poison all passes through this part of the sting. The side pieces (Fig. 2, 5 i) are marvelously sharp, and each barbed at the end with teeth, of which seven are prominent, and which extend out and back like the barb of a fish-hook, so that the sting cannot be withdrawn when once fairly used, and with its loss the bee's life is sacrificed. These side pieces are worked alternately by small muscles (Fig. 2, d) at the base of the sting, and when fairly inserted the poison is intruded through the central piece. The workers also possess a honey stomach (Fig. 3), or crop, in wliich the honey is carried to the Fig. 3. Alimentary Canal.—a, honey stomach; 6, true stomach; c, urinary tubes; d, intestine. The workers always hatch from an impregnated egg, which can only come from a fertile queen, and is always laid in the small horizontal cells (see description of comb and Fig. 11). The eggs are in the form of a short, slightly- curved cylinder, and are fastened by one end to the bottom of the cell. They can be easily seen by holding the comb so that the light will shine into the cells. ^ The eggs hatch in about four days. The larva (Fig. 4) is white and ^ footless, and lies coiled up, floating in the whitish fluid previously placed ^ in the cell. This food is composed
Size: 2184px × 1145px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbees, bookyear1876
