OBSERVATIONS ON THE LEAF-CUTTING BEE. 31
did not apparently affect it in any way, its passage down the
tube and the work at the cell was carried on without a check ;
it was the same if the shutter was raised after it had entered.
The bee always spent the night, and generally the day if it
happened to be wet or cold, in the tube. On these occasions, if
the shutter was raised, it shrank back, sometimes descending
into the partly completed cell.
The unused tubes were frequently occupied by earwigs, often
six or more in one tube. As it must frequently happen that an
earwig would enter a tube already tenanted by a bee, I decided
to see what would happen in such an event. During the absence
of the owner I introduced a large earwig into one of the tubes
occupied by the bee that had dealt so severely with the pirate ;
on its return, to my surprise, it seemed the essence of politeness,
pressing its body against the side of the tube, as if to allow
the earwig to pass, then, so soon as it was touched, retiring about
an inch, the earwig doing the same ; this operation was repeated
a number of times, the bee at last giving way and leaving the
tube. I waited about half an hour when, as I had to leave, I
removed the intruder. On returning two hours later the bee
was at work.
After the completion of the last cell, which may occur half-
way up the tube, if the bee has finished laying; the space remain-
ing is filled with portions of leaf loosely packed ; sometimes
the entrance is neatly closed, but more often it has an untidy
appearance, portions of leaf sticking loosely out.
A surprising thing was the great difference in the workmanship
of the various bees, some taking much greater care about the
finish of the cells than others. I must in fairness say that I have
yet to meet with the jerry-building type.
EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES.
Fig. 1.—Represents a complete nesting tube, with the cover raised.
Fig. 2.—Shows a nest with the fronts of five cells cut away, exposing a
larva in each of the three lower, and an egg in each of the remaining
two ; next above is an undisturbed cell ; then comes a division with the
unusual number of thirty-eight pieces ; above this are two more cells ; and,
lastly, the usual loose fitting to the entrance of the nest.