(a)
From a photograph by] [E. Hawks
A Microscope
(b)
From a photo-micrograph by] [E. Hawks
Head of Bee
Just as the telescope has taught its users a great deal about the stars, which otherwise could not have been known, so too has the microscope shown us wonders such as we never before thought existed.
Before we consider the habits of the bees, it will be well for us to examine, and to understand, the various limbs and parts of their bodies, in order that we may the more easily trace out the manner in which the little workers accomplish their tasks.
CHAPTER VI
THE HEAD
JUST as the head of an animal is the most important part of its body, so too is it in the case of an insect.
A bee’s head, as seen with the aid of a microscope, looks very peculiar, but nevertheless it is exceedingly interesting. A photograph of it is shown (b) on Plate VI. The head is something like a split pea in shape, with the rounded part turned to the front; it is joined to the thorax by a thin neck.
The bee has five eyes, two compound and three simple. The compound eyes are placed one on each side of the head, like the eyes of the house-fly, and the simple eyes are to be found on the top of the head. In Plate VII. the position of the eyes is shown, but only one of the simple eyes is to be seen. In addition to the eyes, the head carries the antennæ, which are two in number, and the whole of the head is covered with a multitude of tiny hairs of a light golden colour.