“‘We are much too crowded,’ said some of the workers.”
“‘I can’t seem to settle down to work,’ answered others. ‘What can you expect when thousands of children are added to a family in a week? The time comes when the house must be made larger, or some of the members must move.’”
“‘We will move,’ said the old queen in a tone of decision. ‘We will move right now. Those who are my friends, come. The others may stay with the piping thing in yonder cell.’”
“And without further words, the old queen flew away, followed by a great many workers.”
“Now I know what swarming means!” cried Ruth. “I used to wonder about it.”
Miss Apis nodded.
“When the swarm was well away, the workers who were left in the hive hastened to let out the new queen.”
“She must have been glad,” said Ruth.
“Very likely,” agreed Miss Apis. “She began her reign with a flying trip into the world with the drones. But after this, she came back to the hive, and settled down to the business of egg-laying. Of course the workers took up the same old tasks, for whatever happens, workers will work. That is why they have no love for the drones, and when Winter comes they drive these lazy ones from the hive.”
“I think I feel a little bit sorry for the drones,” said Ruth, “if they can’t help being lazy, as that drone said a while ago.”