This term refers to the last or winged form, and was given by Linné
because the image of the insect is now real and not masked as when in
the larva state. Now the insect has its full-formed legs and wings, its
compound eyes, complex mouth-parts, and the fully developed sex-organs.
In fact, the whole purpose of the insect now seems to be to reproduce
itself. Many insects do not even eat, only flit in merry marriage mood
for a brief space, when the male flees this life to be quickly followed
by the female, she only waiting to place her eggs where the prospective
infants may find suitable food. Some insects not only place their eggs,
but feed and care for their young, as is true of ants, wasps and bees.
Again, as in case of some species of ants and bees, abortive females
perform all, or most of the labor in caring for the young. The life
of the imago also varies much as to duration. Some live but for a
day, others make merry for several days, while a few species live for
months. Very few imagos survive the whole year.
INCOMPLETE TRANSFORMATIONS.
Some insects, like the bugs, lice, grasshoppers and locusts, are
quite alike at all stages of growth, after leaving the egg. The only
apparent difference is the smaller size and the absence or incomplete
development of the wings in the larvæ and pupæ. The habits and
structure from first to last seem to be much the same. Here, as before,
the full development of the sex-organs occurs only in the imago.
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE HONEY-BEE.
With a knowledge of the anatomy and some glimpses of the physiology
of insects in general, we shall now find it easy to learn the special
anatomy and physiology of the highest insects of the order.
THREE KINDS OF BEES IN EACH FAMILY.
As we have already seen, a very remarkable feature in the economy of
the honey-bee, described even by Aristotle, which is true of many
other bees, and also of ants and many wasps, is the presence in each
family of three distinct kinds, which differ in form, color, structure,
size, habits and function. Thus we have the queen, a number of drones,
and a far greater number of workers. Huber, Bevan, Munn and Kirby
also speak of a fourth kind blacker than the usual workers. These are
accidental, and are, as conclusively shown by Von Berlepsch, ordinary
workers, more deeply colored by loss of hair, dampness, or some other
atmospheric condition. American apiarists are too familiar with these
black bees, for after our severe winters they prevail in the colony,
and, as remarked by the noted Baron, "_They quickly_ disappear." Munn
also tells of a fifth kind, with a top-knot, which appears at swarming
seasons. I am at a great loss to know what he refers to, unless it be
the pollen masses of the asclepias or milk-weed, which sometimes fasten
to our bees and become a severe burden.
THE QUEEN BEE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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