A BEE THAT CUTS LEAVES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 252, 17 October 1908, Page 3

A BEE THAT CUTS LEAVES

Prolnil.lv I!"' most remarkable of all lifi-s is tlii c known us tin- leaf-cut-ting bee. It lias three eyes in the centre »f its lii'iul la very iliick one'i, and two i'()!ii|)i>nnil eves, occupying, respectively, positions on <-;nli sitic of t!uothers. 11l each of these compound i',vi>s there arc 11,000 reflectors, making a total of i>,ooo. In explanation of the title given to this hot-, it is stated that its habit is first to burrow in a sandbank, milking a sort of tube for i'.s nest. Next, tin- intelligent creature—which is rcallv a capital architect—proceeds to a rose tree. It will there alight upon one of the leaves, and, with the tools with which it works, will cut a round piece out of it. This it wilt carry to its nest and rani it to against the extreme top end. Then it will take an oblong piece, which it usi-s to commence the side of a cell with; and so it will go on until it has constructed twelve cells, in each of which it will deposit its collections from the Canterbury bell, of which it is verv fond, and other llnwers. An egg is laid' in each of the cells, and in due time young bees appear, and in their turn escape from the cells and fly about, to carry on the same kind of work.