: The Ohio naturalist Vol. 1 No. 8 June 1901 by Ohio State University Biological Club - Science Periodicals; Natural history Periodicals; Natural history Ohio Periodicals

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Entered at the Post Office at Columbus, Ohio, as second class matter.

The Ohio Naturalist

PUBLISHED BY

THE BIOLOGICAL CLUB OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

Vol. 1. JUNE, 1901 No. 8

A STUDY IN VARIATION ON THE WING OF THE HONEY BEE.

F. L. LANDACRE.

While working on the Honey Bee in the laboratory at the University it was observed that the number of hooks connecting the posterior wing with the anterior was not constant.

The query at once arose as to the amount of variation there might be between different bees in the same hive and also between different hives. Out of this grew a somewhat practical problem as to whether the increase in number of hooks was associated with a decrease in the size of the wing, or whether the increase in number of hooks also implied an increase in size of wing.

The wings of the bee are undoubtedly more efficient for being closely attached to each other. The life of the workers is so short, being only about three weeks, and their activity so great that any increase in efficiency, especially in the organs of flight, must have a very direct influence on the welfare of the whole swarm. So far as the well being of the swarm depends upon nutritive processes the efficiency of the hive is equal to the average efficiency of the workers. Now, if the increase in number of hooks and the consequent, firmer attachment of the wings is compensated for by a smaller wing, there is much less opportunity for the operation of natural selection on the individual bees than if the greater number of hooks is always associated with a broader or longer wing.

This selective process might occur either in the hive or between hives. If it occurs in the hive it would increase the efficiency of the hive somewhat; but if it occurs between hives it finally means the elimination of the weaker hive and the consequent increased efficiency of the species.

In order to find out the real conditions, one of the students, Mr. J. N. Frank, took twenty-five workers from each of four hives and counted the number of hooks on each wing, right and left, and also measured the width of the anterior and posterior wings on each side, The width only was taken on account of the difficulty in finding a good point at the base of the wing from which to measure the length. The results are so uniform that the width probably gives sufficient data from which to draw conclusions.

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