The Humble bee in the Wellington Province.
The largest nest of humble bees yet seen in New Zealand, one as large as a man's hat, and which contained bees in an embryonic state has we are advised just been found in Ohristchurch, and sent up to Wellington. Other nests are expected to follow from the south at an early date. We may state that the humble bee has not, as far as our own knowledge goes, been seen around Masterton or neighborhood.
The humble bee is useless excenifor the purpose of fertilising which it is necessary to fertilise, such as Bed Glover, etc., and which cannot be fertilised by the ordinary honey bee, as their probocis ,vik not sufficiently long to reach down raie flower to the stamens which contain the fecundating pollen. The humble bee is useless as a honeygatherer ; it does not store it, as the honey bee does, for winter consumption. On the approach of winter, it burrows itself into the ground, terminating its existence, and has been dug out at some considerable distance from the surface.
The nest referred to above is certainly a large one, and may, to an extent, blister one's credulity. It is double the size of any we have seen at Home,
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WDT18880211.2.15
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2820, 11 February 1888, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
210The Humble bee in the Wellington Province. Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2820, 11 February 1888, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in