The Honey-Bee: Its Natural History, Physiology and ManagementBevan, Edward
History
The Honey-Bee: Its Natural History, Physiology and Management
Bevan, Edward
Bee culture; Bees
From the experiments of Swammerdam, Reaumur, Hooke and others, it seems
that bees and other insects, particularly those of the hymenopterous
order, possess organs of vision, besides those which are properly called
their eyes. These organs, known by the name of +Stemmata+, are three
smooth, glossy, hemispherical dots, placed in a triangular position upon
the vertex or top of the head. The two reticular eyes of one of these
insects having been covered with fluid pitch, (the stemmata being left
open,) when placed under a glass, the insect ran up and down, but without
striking against the sides of the glass. In a similar experiment upon a
dragon-fly (_Libellula_), the insect flew away, but in its flight struck
against walls and other objects. The stemmata in another insect being
covered, and the reticular eyes left open, seemed to cause no impediment
to its usual proceedings, it appeared to see as well as before. But when
both the stemmata and the eyes were covered, the insect seemed to be
totally deprived of sight, it walked slowly under the glass, and when
allowed its liberty, would not venture to fly. These experiments being
tried upon bees by Reaumur, they remained immoveable, appearing uncertain
where to direct their flight: when their eyes only were covered, they
flew perpendicularly upwards till they were out of sight, seeming to
follow that direction which the aid of the stemmata afforded them. These
stemmata may, from their situation, assist the insect in performing its
various operations in the interior of the hive; may, as Reaumur has
observed, answer to them the purpose of microscopes.
I cannot conclude this chapter on the Senses of Bees without noticing
the theory of that eminent physiologist +Dr. Virey+. He has given it as
his opinion, that there are seven senses, which he thus divides. Four
physical, namely, Touch, Taste, Smell, and Love; three intellectual,
namely. Hearing, Sight, and Thought. (_N. Dict. d'Hist. Nat._) Whether
Love and Thought should be added to my enumeration of the senses of bees
I shall not now inquire: if they may be, this work will supply abundant
evidence of both, if we comprehend the whole community of bees; for
though physical love appears not to constitute any part of the pleasure
of the working bee, (except from some accidental cause which has been
already explained,) there is presumptive proof of its possessing thought
or intellect: and although it may not be easy to adduce testimony in
favour of the queen's or the drone's possessing thought, they both
satisfactorily evince a susceptibility of physical love.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
INSTINCTS OF BEES.
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