Bees going into a Skep] CHAPTER XXXV THE MASSACRE OF THE DRONES We have already seen that the drones do no work in the hive, nor do they gather nectar or pollen. They live a life of ease, feeding upon the honey gathered by the workers, and it has been said that each drone eats as much food as can be provided by four workers. You may understand from this that the drones would quickly eat up the provisions which have been gathered for the winter. The workers know this too, and when the summer begins to go and the flowers to fade, the drones will meet their fate. They are always under the power of the workers, for besides eating honey, they are given chyle food, and were the workers not to give them this, at the end of three days the drones would die, even though there was plenty of honey around them. It is not by starvation that the drones die, however, for they are massacred by the bees. Some time about August, perhaps, when the bees find that the honey is not coming in as fast as it used to, the step will be taken, for they have now to think about the winter months which are close at hand. If there are any drone cells in the hive with eggs or grubs in them, the workers tear them open, the young drones are dragged out, and their bodies thrown out of the door of the hive. Although the other drones may see these proceedings they take no heed of them, but continue to live their lazy life, and to eat their fill of honey. But in a few days the signal for the massacre is given, and the workers commence to put them to death. Throughout the hive may be seen the workers chasing the drones over the combs which, but a few days before, supplied them with honey. The drones have no sting, nor any means of defence, so that they are absolutely at the mercy of their pursuers. The bee-city is alive with the terrible cries of the victims, and as the workers catch the drones they commence to bite off their wings. Sometimes, too, they will even gnaw off the legs or the antennæ or cut through the drone’s slender waist, their one idea being to disable him. Some of the drones perhaps are able to escape from the hive, and may seek refuge in flight, but after a few hours they are back again. They cannot live without food, and as they have never done any work, they do not know how to gather it. When they return, the guard at the gate, which is always doubled at this time, savagely fall upon and kill them. Some do not return to the hive, but these speedily perish of cold when the night air comes on. The bees never sting the drones in the struggle, for the sting, being barbed, would soon be pulled out by the roots were it once inserted in the drone’s body. The bodies of those that have been killed are carried out of the hive by the undertakers, and a busy time they have, as you may imagine. [Illustration: PLATE XXX Half-an-hour after Plate XXIX] CHAPTER XXXVI HONEY