Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-08-28
TIE
The Manner in Which They Mako
Their Home and Rear Their Young.

The Manner in Which They Make
Their Home and Rear Their IOunE
If you will look carefully along the
under side of the ledge On any old
board fence, you will probably be re-
warded by finding one or more round
holes, about half an inch in diameter,
and as true and smooth as though bored
with an auger. BY placing your ear
close TO the wood you may often hear
r low, buzzing sound issuing from with
in. II you are patient, and will watch
the hole for a short time or strike the
wood in its vicinity a sharp blow, a
large black-and-yellow insect will come
tumbling forth, and fly buzzing. away
~ bumblebee." you exelaim. What
was he doing in there?" But. never
theless, you are mistaken; for although
in general appearance she certainly
does resemble our bumblebee friends,
yet should you compare the two you
would find them quite different. In
our new acquaintance the stripes are
pale ocher yellow instead Of the rich
golden color OF the bumblebee; and the
yellow pollen baskets on the hind legs
of the latter are replaced by a brush
of coarse. stiff hairs.
This insect is the large carpenter
bee" and well named she is, too, for
no human carpenter could bore neater
holes, or chisel out the wood TO form
a dry and coy home better than does
this little creature with no tools saw
those nature furnished in the form of
sharp, horny mandibles or jaws. After
boring the hole 10 the depth Of about
an inch, the carpenter bee turns at
right angles TO the entrance, and pa
tiently cuts a long tunnel, a foot or
more in length parallel 10 the surface
Of the wood. The completion of this
long, dry chamber necessitates hard
unceasing labor for several weeks, and
then the little carpenter combines bust
ness with pleasure by taking frequent
excursions TO sunny fields and gardens,
TO gather honey and pollen from the
| flowers store. From the nectar thus
obtained she forms a paste which IL
packed closely in the end of her new
~ built house, and IN IL lays a single
egg. Next, small chips, made in Dor
ing the hole, are brought, and mixing
them with a secretion from her mouth
she fastens them on the sides Of thu
tunnel, working round and round in
spiral. each turn of which reaches near
err the center; until finally, a thir
wooden partition is formed, walling of
the egg and its little store of hone,
paste. Against this wall more hone.
is packed, another egg laid, a partition
built, and the operation completed un
til the chamber is completely filled
The first egg laid is the first to hatch
and the tiny white grub comes fortl
and at once commences 10 feast upol
the food so proyidentially placed with
In his little chamber. Finally he goe
to sleep, and while he slumbers hi
skin grows hard and brown, Will
ridges and protuberances appear upoI
its surface. At last the little pup
bursts open, and a perfect bee come
forth. with his shining black head clos
to the dainty wall his mother bull
This, all unmindful of her toll, he In
mediately tears down, only to find hi
way TO freedom checked by his mex
younger brother or sister, still aslee
in its pupa case. After waiting patient
ly the pupa which bars his progress
matches out into another bee, who tear
down the wall TO his own cell, to fin
another pupa barring his way, whe
both are compelled TO remain by tn
pupa beyond. Finally the last bee
patched, and, breaking down the bal
rier which hides the world Of flower
and freedom from his view. the whol
brood swarms forth to try their res
less, gauzy wings in the bright SUI
shine.-A. Hyatt Nerrill, in St. Nich'
las,