This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ...The poison (F ormic Acid) which adds pain to the wound possibly served as an antiseptic secretion when the l ovipositor performed its original function. In the life-history of the Hymenoptera there is well-marked metamorphosis, the larva being a grub and the pupa showing clearly the projecting ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ...The poison (F ormic Acid) which adds pain to the wound possibly served as an antiseptic secretion when the l ovipositor performed its original function. In the life-history of the Hymenoptera there is well-marked metamorphosis, the larva being a grub and the pupa showing clearly the projecting appendages and other features of the adult. The Hymenoptera represent a very high grade of insect evolution, both in their structure and in their psychical features. The latter is specially apparent in those members of the group (bees, ants) which live in complex social communities. Here, as in the case of the termites, those types which have made a success of communal life show an intense specialization of the individuals for different functions in the community. Here again we see in the Bee a restriction of the reproductive function, in so far at least as the female sex is concerned, to a single individual--the queen. The ordinary females in the community are kept from attaining sexual maturity by being fed with different food and these sterile undeveloped females are the workers of the community. More than one female may receive the food necessary for sexual development, but in such a case the first queen that reaches the adult condition proceeds to sting the others to death. This is apparently not the only way in which sexual development is controlled. The males or drones are produced from eggs which develop by parthenogenesis, i.e. without being fertilized, and it is believed that the queen, whose spermatheca has been filled with spermatozoa during the first flight, is able voluntarily to prevent or to allow access of the spermatozoa to the eggs as they are being laid. In the case of the Ants the community consists of functional males and...
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 1250grams, ISBN: