The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-07-24
TUE HONEY BEE.


habits of these wonderful insects have been
carefully studied. Some persons have
spent their days in observing these little
busy animals,
Every association Of bees has three kinds
the queen, the drones, and The workers
II is estimated that hive usually con, ains
from SIX TO twelve thousand bees. In some
small hives, however, the number is much
less than six thousand, while large ones
have been known to have as many as
twenty thousand. !.
There is only one queen in each swarm,
whether large or small. The average pro-
portion Of drones is about fifty to each thou
sand working bees. Hence about nineteen
twentielhs Of the bees in every hive arc
workers.
THE DRONE.
The drones are the largest bees in the
family. Their bodies are large, thick, and
clumsy, and they are about the size Of two
working bees. Their wings are large and
long, aud they make loud, buzzing noise
when flying. They have no sting, and may
be handled without harm.
The drones are the male bees. They
live life of idleness, taking no part in the
labor Of the hive. Indeed they have not
The power 10 collect honey, or to provide
themselves with food. They have neither
snch as workers have, to con-
fain collected sweets, nor cavities upon
their legs for the pollen.
Were drone deprived Of the privileges
OF feeding on the stores oflhe hive it would
die. In one respect they have more liber-
ty than the workers, for they are permitted
to enter any hive, and live in the same
manner as in thoir own.
The drones appear in the hives during
The latter part Of May, and are usually kill
ed or driven out TO starve 10 the month OF
July. Sometimes few are permitted to
remain uuch later in the season.
THE QUEEN BEE.
The queNh beeis mother of the family,
and governs the hive. She is longer aud
more slender than the drone, but not as
large, and is larger in every respect than
the worker. Her legs are longer, bat her
wings arc shorter in proportion than those
Of the drone or worker.
The queen is very seldom seen. Some
times she may be seen during the timc OF
swarming. She may occasionally be found
in her royal cell, when The bees have been
destroyed with smoke for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning their honey.
The queen is majestic in her movements
and is accompanied BY guard composed
Of twelve workers. This attendance is
taken in turns and never neglected.
Wherever she goes the guards clear her
path, always turning their faces towards her
with the greatest respect,
She is armed with sting but seldom
uses ii except against rival queens. She
may be taken in The bare hand, md will
seldom sting when handled carefully. A
worker, taken in the same manner, would
be dropped like piece Of hot iron.
The chief Office Of the queen is to lay
eggs, one of which she deposits in each cell.
These eggs are Of two kinds--drono- eggs
aud worker eggs. When worker egg is
deposited in rnya! cell it becomes queen
bee. There are seldom moro than five or
len of these cells in one hive.
ROYAL CELL.
The queen usually commences laying
as soon as the genial warmth of spring
comes on. About the first Of May her
''great laying" takes place, when she depos-
ties from one to two hundred eggs per day.
IN warm climates this period may take place
earlier.
At first she dcposi,es only worker eggs,
hen she lays drone eggs for few days,
md after this ngain produces worker.eggs
During the time oflaying the drone eggs.
he royal cells arc built; and when the
1ueen commences laying worker eggs for
he second time, she deposites every few
lays, one Of these eggs in a royal cell, and
rom these the queen are produced.
The drones are produced from the eggs
n twenty.four days, the workers in twenty
laws, and the queens in sixteen days.
Though young queen bee has attained
is growth. the workers will not allow It TO
,ome out ofthe cell as long MS the old queen
remains in the hive. Should the young
queen effect her escape from the cell the
I'D one would seize and kill her immediate
y.
When the young queen has attained her
growth. and begins TO say "peep peep" the
I'D one, knowing it to be the cry OF rival
or liberty, is aroused, and attempts TO get
II the royal cell TO destroy its inmate
But the workers prevent her from doing
his; and now, finding that she no longer
las absolute authority in the family, she
commences sudden vibration Of her wings
uns over every part Of the combs, followed
" her subjects, and a great commotion en-
ueS.
When notice has thus been fairly COM
to the whole family, the queen
ushes toward the outlet, the word is given
. swarm and away go the workers, as u
pursued by ten thousand foes.
While swarming they cluster around the
queen, and wherever she alights, there the
whole company Immediately settle. The
Id queen always flies off with tho first
warm.
After tho old queen has thus left the hive
he workers release the young one. She
omes forth strong and full of energy, and
t once assumes the government OF the col