Manual of the apiary

by Albert John Cook

For mere classification, no work is equal to Westwood on Insects—two volumes. In this the descriptions and illustrations are very full and perfect, making it easy to study the families, and even genera, of all the sub-orders. This work and the following are out of print, but can be got with little trouble at second-hand book-stores.

Kirby and Spence—Introduction to Entomology—is a very complete work. It treats of the classification, structure, habits, general economy of insects, and gives a history of the subject. It is an invaluable work, and a great acquisition to any library.

Dr. Packard's Guide to the Study of insects is a valuable work, and being American, is specially to be recommended.

The Reports of Dr. T. Harris, Dr. A. Fitch, and of Prof. C. V. Riley, will also be found of great value and interest.

CHAPTER II.
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.

In this chapter I shall give first the general anatomy of insects; then the anatomy, and still more wonderful physiology of the honey-bee.

ANATOMY OF INSECTS.

In all insects the body is divided into three well-marked portions ([Fig, 2]): the head (Figs. [4] and [5]), which contains the mouth-organs, the eyes, both the compound and when present the simple, and the antennæ; the thorax, which is composed of three rings, and gives support to the one or two pairs of wings, and to the three pairs of legs; and the abdomen, which is composed of a variable number of rings, and gives support to the external sex-organs, and when present to the sting. Within the thorax there are little more than muscles, as the concentrated strength of insects, which enables them to fly with such rapidity, dwells in this confined space. Within the abdomen, on the other hand, are the sex-organs, by far the greater and more important portions of the alimentary canal, and other important organs.

ORGANS OF THE HEAD.

Of these the mouth organs ([Fig, 6]) are most prominent. These consist of an upper lip—labrum—and under lip—labium—and two pairs of jaws which move sidewise; the stronger, horny jaws, called mandibles, and the more membranous, but usually longer, maxillæ. The labrum ([Fig. 6, l]) is well described in the name upper lip. It is attached, usually, by a movable joint to a similarly shaped piece above it, called clypeus ([Fig. 6, c]), and this latter to the broad epicranium ([Fig. 6, o]), which contains the antennæ, the compound, and, when present, the simple eyes.