[Illustration: QUEEN-CELLS.]
[Illustration: THE QUEEN AND HER RETINUE.]
The eggs do not develop directly into adult bees, as might be inferred
from what has just been said; but after three days there hatches from
the egg a small white worm-like larva. For several days the larvæ
are fed by the workers, and the amount of food consumed is truly
remarkable. The larva grows rapidly until it fills the entire cell in
which it lives. The workers then cover the cell with a cap of wax, and
at the same time the larva inside spins a delicate cocoon under the cap.
[Illustration: HOW THE EGG OF THE QUEEN BEE LOOKS