New-York tribune., 1873-05-03
Tie PnENoMENA OF PARTnEEoGENEsIs.

PHENOMENA OF PAlJHENOGENEslS.
most curious chapter in the history of reproduction
is that called by naturasts parthenOgeneSs that H.
the production individuals from virgin females. That
this is a normal NATURAL and ufequent mode OF
production has late ascerained with perfect pre-
cson which leaves doubt about the fact.
These Investigations lad .ner osi IN the study Ot tue
that the beehive contains three different kinds Of ind
yduas designated Dy the names OI queen bees drOncs
ana working bees There is but one queen, aud when
more thau appears fcuds anu contests arise
ending IN the death ot one or The other. IL
srems as II the economy aud prosperity Of
the hive best secured when there Is Ouy one queen
IN tie whole community. The number Of drOues II
large; there are from 60 to l,5D IN beehive In a
unt Hye there Oe 90 10 zoo; IN heavy hive, an
uudor peculiar circuusdAcc- Tue number OF drOhcs IS
increased, ana may rise 70 looo or even become 50
numerous 10 destroy tine harmony OF the niyc, ana
bring abont the destruction OF the whole community
Tho number OI WOIElaR pceS - larger stl For hgnt
live there may be mpny as 1900; in neayy hive
there may be 5000 WORKING becs, ANA even These
three kinds Oi lnuFldudis constitute one community IN
it, perfect aud normal condition Sometimes sucn Gem
uuniues divide. part Of them Withdrawing 10 form
always 10 assycintr in these relative numbers one
queen, many buuolcd dIOhes, ana many thousand
not long survive Their life is limited 90 "A Summer,
while tho queen bee may 1--we three, four aud. though
bees about the same time TIE nature OF these different
individuals and their relations to other is qucs-
tOD which has puzzled observers IOn the Oldest lines
The Cuer Dest days cultivated bees, aud their
~ the history OF every cNihDed community IN
Europe, ind the bee mentioned. Their habits have
been watched with care ana thcir economy has been
studied IN order add u possible TO their productive
ness Tue question has arisen What Is that one single
commanding individual who reigns with undivided
power over thousands Of other individuals The Ger
mans gave II masculine name, Der Vessel, taking II
the king The English aud French called It
what the Others might be also matter Of specuia-
tiOu. The Germans Cahed the drOues by feminine
name DE DrOhne, and the working bees have been
looked upon as a KIND OF slave 70 the others.
TIE PACTs RESPECT TO SEX OF BEES.
tits only within a few years that the mystery of this
sin 1uar domestic economy has been really solved.
clergyman IN siesia, Dzierzon, who engaged in
raising bees first announced 10 bhe world and main
tanned that bees hold relations 10 each other Of
peouar character that when first stated by him they
Appeared utterly incredible 10 the scientific mfs Of
dfy DzerzOn asserted that the queen had the power
of laying eggs which never produce anything but
males and that Ia order 10 produce males these eggs
must De laid without fecundatiOD that the working
hees were females born from eggs which had
been formulated, but that these females did
moi undergo q complete development, remained In a
Kind OF Imperfect condition. and could only be raised to
erfect sIats under exceptional treatment ny pcGu-
5f mode of feeding % which Of them submit
tod Dy tEe w0rknRbees 6beR tle queen had boen ost