The Behavior of the Honey Bee in Pollen Collection

L. O. Howard, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau.
C. L. Marlatt, Entomologist and Acting Chief in Absence of Chief.
R. S. Clifton, Executive Assistant.
W. F. Tastet, Chief Clerk.

F. H. Chittenden, in charge of truck crop and stored product insect investigations.
A. D. Hopkins, in charge of forest insect investigations.
W. D. Hunter, in charge of southern field crop insect investigations.
F. M. Webster, in charge of cereal and forage insect investigations.
A. L. Quaintance, in charge of deciduous fruit insect investigations.
E. F. Phillips, in charge of bee culture.
D. M. Rogers, in charge of preventing spread of moths, field work.
Rolla P. Currie, in charge of editorial work.
Mabel Colcord, in charge of library.

Investigations in Bee Culture.
E. F. Phillips, in charge.
G. F. White, J. A. Nelson, experts.
G. S. Demuth, A. H. McCray, N. E. McIndoo, apicultural assistants.
Pearle H. Garrison, preparator.
D. B. Casteel, collaborator.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Entomology,
Washington, D. C, September 23, 1912.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript entitled "The Behavior of the Honey Bee in Pollen Collecting," by Dr. Dana B. Casteel, of this bureau. The value of the honey bee in cross pollinating the flowers of fruit trees makes it desirable that exact information be available concerning the actions of the bee when gathering and manipulating the pollen. The results recorded in this manuscript are also of value as studies in the behavior of the bee and will prove interesting and valuable to the bee keeper. The work here recorded was done by Dr. Casteel during the summers of 1911 and 1912 at the apiary of this bureau.

I recommend that this manuscript be published as Bulletin No. 121 of the Bureau of Entomology.

Respectfully,

L. O. Howard,
Entomologist and Chief of Bureau.

Hon. James Wilson,
Secretary of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.

	Page.
Introduction	7
The structures concerned in the manipulation of pollen	7
The pollen supply	10
General statement of the pollen-collecting process	11
Action of the forelegs and mouthparts	13
Action of the middle legs	14
Action of the hind legs	16
Additional details of the basket-loading process	18
Pollen moistening	22
Storing pollen in the hive	29
Summary	31
Bibliography	33
Index	35

ILLUSTRATIONS.

TEXT FIGURES.

			Page.
Fig.	1.	Left foreleg of a worker bee	8
	2.	Left middle leg of a worker bee	9
	3.	Outer surface of the left hind leg of a worker bee	10
	4.	Inner surface of the left hind leg of a worker bee	11
	5.	A flying bee, showing the manner in which the forelegs and middle legs manipulate pollen	14
	6.	A bee upon the wing, showing the position of the middle legs when they touch and pat down the pollen masses	15
	7.	A bee upon the wing, showing the manner in which the hind legs are held during the basket-loading process	17
	8.	The left hind legs of worker bees, showing the manner in which pollen enters the basket	19
	9.	Inner surface of the right hind leg of a worker bee which bears a complete load of pollen	22

THE BEHAVIOR OF THE HONEY BEE IN POLLEN COLLECTING.

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