Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-01-09

tie authority just quoted, no less than
ISIS different species of Wild bees
have been described from North Am
eriac-that Is. including all of the
country north of Pan&ma-up to the
present day. When one comes 10
study the habits and structure of all
these bees. il is possible 10 unIer.
stand why the varieues are so numer
Gus.
The pollen of flowers has TO be
carried principally by insects-taat OF
on flower 10 other flowers of the
same sort in order 10 bring about TIE
fertilization and production of seed
or AL the insect carriers the bees
are the most important. They visit
the flowers for nectar and pollen. to
store up in nests for their .oung
When so doing. they carry tle dust
like pollen from flower TO flower,
leaving a little of that previously
gathered each time they align; ca
blossom
Now. suppose that all bees visited
indiscriminateiy every sort of flower,
it would continually happen that the
pollen of one species of pant was
left on the flower of qaitee different
species. where it would be altogether
useless II is desirable. therefore.
that each kind Of bee should visit one
particular kind OF y ant. or. at any
rate. should prefer certain kinds. This
proves TO be more or less the case
and there a:e m1I% bees -; never
visit mere than en- sci .: aows"
The number OF Of ercct kinds Ct flow
ers is very great. ami. conseqae atty.
it is not surprising ID find tnat there
are many sorts OF 5Ses.
In numerous instances the mouth
part of the bees is exactly suited IL
the flowers they visit. Thus certain
kinds with very long tongues can
suck the nectar from long tubular
flowers. such as the yellow lowered
currant while others. with short
tongues can make use of shallow
flowers. Ii is the case OF the FOX and
the sto:k over again.
Although the described North Am
ercan bees are so numerous. IL is as
serted tina; the entomo.Ogists do no'
know half of those existing. In deed,
it is not impossible that the North
American Continent, with the West
Indies. possesses as many As i've
thousand species. Thus the o?portu
nifty for the student OF these iasects
is very great. He is absolutely GER
tain TO find almost any part of the
country species wholly new TO science
during his FIST seasons collecting.
In Colorado. FOX instance. it is prob
. abe that Amos; any spring or sum
mer day devoted TO the search. would
yield new kinds. In New-MeNico up
TO today 500 species have been found.
and of those 3l5 can be called new.
The rdscovery AMI description OF
new species are. however. only the be-
ginning OF the work. After this
comes the most interesting part-'hat
study of the nesting habits aad the
relation between a very wide one.
and seems practically limitless. While
the opportunities for study are so
great. and. of course. open TO all VINO
have the time comparatively few can
be expected To do much in APOLOGY.
There is no reason why many should
not interest themselves as far as TO
make collections. or obtain specimens
for the use of students. but only
few will have the zeal. industry and
patience TO obtain a real grasp or
the subject There are at present
only about thirteen active students
some of these have done very little.