Chapter L: O. Howard,

_Entomologist and Chief of Bureau_.

Hon. James Wilson,

_Secretary of Agriculture_.

CONTENTS.

Page.

Introduction 7

The structures concerned in the manipulation of pollen 7

The pollen supply 10

General statement of the pollen-collecting process 11

Action of the forelegs and mouthparts 13

Action of the middle legs 14

Action of the hind legs 16

Additional details of the basket-loading process 18

Pollen moistening 22

Storing pollen in the hive 29

Summary 31

Bibliography 33

Index 35

ILLUSTRATIONS.

TEXT FIGURES.

Page.

Fig. 1. Left foreleg of a worker bee 8

2. Left middle leg of a worker bee 9

3. Outer surface of the left hind leg of a worker bee 10

4. Inner surface of the left hind leg of a worker bee 11

5. A flying bee, showing the manner in which the forelegs
and middle legs manipulate pollen 14

6. A bee upon the wing, showing the position of the middle
legs when they touch and pat down the pollen masses 15

7. A bee upon the wing, showing the manner in which the
hind legs are held during the basket-loading process 17

8. The left hind legs of worker bees, showing the manner
in which pollen enters the basket 19

9. Inner surface of the right hind leg of a worker bee
which bears a complete load of pollen 22

THE BEHAVIOR OF THE HONEY BEE IN POLLEN COLLECTING.