. Handbook of flower pollination : based upon Hermann Mu?ller's work 'The fertilisation of flowers by insects' . Fertilization of plants. HYMENOPTERA—BEES 145 related to this. I shall therefore, in the following account, substantially repeat the descriptions of this distinguished investigator. A. Membrane-winged Insects (Hymenoptera). Of insects concerned with the pollination of European flowers, these are the most important. The first place must be given to Bees (Apidae), which of all insects stand on the highest level of specialization in regard to flower pollination, and are alone capable o
. Handbook of flower pollination : based upon Hermann Mu?ller's work 'The fertilisation of flowers by insects' . Fertilization of plants. HYMENOPTERA—BEES 145 related to this. I shall therefore, in the following account, substantially repeat the descriptions of this distinguished investigator. A. Membrane-winged Insects (Hymenoptera). Of insects concerned with the pollination of European flowers, these are the most important. The first place must be given to Bees (Apidae), which of all insects stand on the highest level of specialization in regard to flower pollination, and are alone capable of putting into action numerous flower-mechanisms which remain closed to all other visitors. Not only are they most skilful in the quest for flower-food, but they are also most zealous, for besides feeding upon substances derived from flowers as adults, they rear their young entirely on such food. The whole existence of bees is therefore, says Hermann Miiller ('Fertilisation,' p. 46), bound up with flowers to such an extent that they by themselves present more adaptations to procuring flower-food, and considerably more with regard to pollination, than all other orders of insects, with the possible exception of Lepidoptera, put together, and have therefore brought about a larger number of floral adaptations. The honey-bee (Fig. 58, 5, 6) is pre-eminent among its kind as regards adapta- tion to poUination. With wonderful certainty it solves the problems presented. Fig. 58. PoUen-colUcting apparatus on the hind-lefrs of bees (after Hermann Miiller). (i) Right hind-leg of Macropis lAfaiata F:j. 9. seen from behind and within. (2) The same laden with pollen of Lysimachia vttlgaris. i^i^ Right hind-leg of Bombus Scrimshiranus K. b^een from behind and within. (4) Tibia (shin) of the same, seen from the outer side (collecting-basket). \is> Right hind-leg of the honey- bee (Apis mellifica L. 5), seen from behind and within. (6) Tibia (shin) of the same from the outer side. c, coia (
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