THE HUMBLE BEE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3017, 14 November 1891, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE HUMBLE BEE.

" If in the montn of March as one passes through the fields, which are beginuing to get green, or through the woods, still deprived of their leaves, thero may be seen hovering hither and thither great hairy insects resembling gigantic bees. These are the females of the humble bee, called by the French 'bourdons,' from the buzzing noise tliey produce. These females have been awakened by the Spring sun. The examine the cavities of stones, the heaps of moss, and the holes hollowed out by the rabbits and squirrels, seeking for a suitable spot to construct a nest for their progeny.

The humble bees are the same family as the bees, whom they resemble in their organisation. Like them, they are divided into miles, females, and neuters or workers. But their companies only last a year. At the end of Autumn, the whole population has become extinct, with the exception of the pregnant females, which pass the winter in a state of torpor at the bottom of some hole, where they wait till the spring to perpetuate their race. These societies comprise generally only a small number of individuals, from 50 to 300. They are of peaceful habits, their ephemeral existence beginning and ending with the flower season.

" The humble bees are known by their great size, their short robust body, encircled by bands of very bright colours, and by the noise they make in flying. Their hind legs are armed with two spurs. The females and the workers have the organisation for plundering flowers as the bees have, their truuks and their legs fitted with brushes and baskets for gathering pollen. The males, like the males of hive bees, have no sting. The greater number have their dwelling places under gronud; others make their nests on the surface of the soil, in the cracks of walls, in heaps of stones, etc Until autumn the bees are incessantly enlarging their nests, and multiplying their pots of honey. Without accumulating a great stock of provisions, which they would not be able to dispose of they always keep in reserve a quantity of pollen and honey for their daily wants. The cells in which the honey is stored differ very much in shape. Some species of humble bees give them long and narrow necks ; others, less recherchi in their style of construction simply make cylindrical vases. There are among the humble bees races of artists and rac«s of simple builders—the one construct with taste, the other only seek the uaeful. " During the day the humble hees cull honey from flowers. At night they enter their home, but a certain number take the liberty of sleeping out. Surprised by the arrival of night in the bottom of the calyx of a sweetly-scented flower they philosophically determine to sleep in the open air, lying on this perfumed bed with the heaven as their canopy.

" The coupling of the humble bee takes place towards the end of September. It costs tho males their life, as it does with the hive bees. The impregnated females do not lay till the following spring ; it is they who, after the winter is pissed, will become the mothers of new generations. After the first cold weather in autumn all these insects perish, except the pregnant females. These privileged depositaries of tho race (span altera domi), look for a place of retreat, and there sleep till the following spring. Then they wake up and found new colonies, which continue the race.

" For a lonsr while were confounded with the humble bees certain insects which have the same appearance, that is to say a hairy body with bands of various colours, but "whose hind legs are adapted neither for gathering honey nor building. Theso are tho genus Psithyrua; it was Lepelletier de Saint-Farsrean who discovered their true position. These are parasites, and only consist of males and fertile female.-, without workers. They lay their eggs in tho nests of the humble bee. They are indeed so like their hosts that thoy can introduce themselves into their dwellings without raising any suspicion. The'humble bees admit them freely and receive them as if they belonged to the family ; so much so indeed that the poor humble bees themselves brinir up tho larvae of these impudent guests."—Euiflish paper.