. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. lliiiiiliiis iirirHliflii Aph fituriiiliLS. Xytueopd Caffr'x. The riglit-liaiul insect in tlio on^'raving is tlio Carpenter Bee of Soutliorn Africa, one of tliose envious insects whicli construct a >erics of cells in wood. Afte" completing tlieir burrow, which is open at ouch end, they close the bottom with a flooring of agglutinated sawdust, foiined of the morsels bitten otf during the operation of burrowing, lay an egjr upon this tloor, inse
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. lliiiiiliiis iirirHliflii Aph fituriiiliLS. Xytueopd Caffr'x. The riglit-liaiul insect in tlio on^'raving is tlio Carpenter Bee of Soutliorn Africa, one of tliose envious insects whicli construct a >erics of cells in wood. Afte" completing tlieir burrow, which is open at ouch end, they close the bottom with a flooring of agglutinated sawdust, foiined of the morsels bitten otf during the operation of burrowing, lay an egjr upon this tloor, insert a fpuuitity of " bee-bread,'' madi; of the pollen of llowers and tlieir juices, and then cover the whole with a layer of the same substance that was \ised for the tloor. Upon tins is laid another egg, anotlier sn]iply of is inserted, and a f/esh layer of sawdust superimposed. J'lach layer -s therefore the lloor of one cell and the ceiling of another, and the insect makes on the average about ten or twelv# of these cells. At tlu! left hand of the engraving is shown one of the nnnurous Humble Bees, a group of readily recognised by their thick hairy bodies and general shape. Their nests are placed underground, often in banks, and contain a variable number of cells, .sdHU'tinies not more than twenty in nuud)er, ami sometimes exceeding two, or even three, Inuulretl. The cells are loosely connected logetlier, and are of an oval shape, their texture lieing tougher and more paper-like than those of the hive bee. In these, as in the ordinary bees, there are the three kinds of inhabitants ; but with the Humble Bees, l>oth the females and neuters take part in the labours of the establishment, while the number ot perfect females is conqjaratively large. The honey made by these insects is peculiarly sweet and fragrant, but to many persons, myself included, is rather injurious, always causing a severe Ik iidaclie. IHome of tl Humble liees {lionihiis muscdriim)
Size: 968px × 2581px
Photo credit: © The Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
