I propose, by permission, to discuss in the columns of the BEE JOURNAL the
hitherto puzzling problem: “What is royal jelly, that substance known
to produce the transformation of worker larvæ to queens?” Profound
scientists of Europe and this country have delved into the secrets of
the grand problem, but none of them have handed down a satisfactory
solution. Yet, it does not seem rational that the question is so
obstruse as to forever remain past finding out what the so-called royal
jelly consists of; the source from which it is derived; its definite
action on larvæ; and whether it is administered by the workers as a
nourishing aliment to larvæ; in royal cells, or for the purpose of
impregnating the larvæ; (as pistilliferous flowers are impregnated with
pollen) and thus develop a female bee fully qualified to reproduce
males. The settled doctrine of writers on bee-matters is that it is
chiefly due to the excess of food served to the larva by the workers
that produces the transformation from worker to queen. Still no writer
has ventured to assert that such is a demonstrated fact. The late Baron
of Berlepsch, the able expounder of the Dzierzon Theory, and the most
scientific and practical apicultural writer and experienced apiarist in
all Europe, wrote thus:
“Every hypothesis, however, yet submitted from any quarter, rest
chiefly upon the assumption that the development (of fertile workers
and queens) has by some means been over-stimulated for a brief period,
and as the result affects the sexual organs more especially, the
quantity and quality of the food administered has been looked to as the
exciting cause.”
If his assumption be admitted then individual female bees are
very likely to be reproduced imperfectly developed in all the
degrees between a rudimentary fertile worker up to a perfect queen.
Furthermore, were it true that development depends on quantity of food
or the over-stimulating caused by high feeding, the workers would
be able to supply themselves with queens at all times; when on the
contrary it is well known that workers cannot always perfect queens
when furnished with everything necessary for that purpose except the
impregnating principle—semen.
[Illustration: EGGS AND LARVA.]
A full knowledge of the reproduction of the honey bee is of great
importance, and at the very foundation of the science of bee-culture
and of great value to those who intend to breed the superior races of
bees, especially the principles of hybridizing so as to prevent their
deterioration and improve the breeds. And it is of great moment to
the science of entomology to determine whether insects are produced
by parthenogenesis, as is believed, or by semen received by the male
progenitors. As for myself, I have conclusive evidence that such queens
as are reproduced by furnishing a colony of black bees with eggs laid
by an Italian queen, is in some degree hybridized.
All of the points in the “Dzierzon Theory” have been demonstrated
except his theory of the reproduction of bees, particularly drones and
queens. It seems that he was sorely puzzled in his profound research to
comprehend the laws involved in the strange phenomena—virgin queens
reproducing male bees—and to dispose of the (to him) inexplicable
point in his colossal theory, he jumped at a conclusion which was
based upon the hypothetical doctrine advanced by Professors Von
Seibold, Leuckart, and Dr. Donhoff, the fathers of the theory called
“Parthenogenesis,” that is procreating without male sperm. It was
during the period that Dr. Dzierzon was making public his theory that
Mr. Elihu Kirby, of Henrietta, N. Y., attempted to make known the
result of his long-time and attentive research into the principles
of reproduction of the different races of honey bees. He was a
scientific apiarist of long experience, and enthusiastic in the cause
of progressive bee-culture. Not until 1861 was there published or
circulated in this country a periodical devoted to bee affairs and
scarcely no attention was given to scientific bee-culture at that
time. Mr. K. communicated to the AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL at different
times just after its advent, the discoveries he had made relative to
the reproduction of bees, but not much attention was given it further
than a brief notice by the editor, the lamented Samuel Wagner, who,
like the great Dzierzon, seemed not to comprehend the evolution of the
reproduction of insects.
During the period of 1859–63, Mr. Kirby was in failing health, and when
in the summer of 1863, he was about to bid adieu to his long-cherished
theme and go from the altar of home on earth to a heavenly inheritance,
he besought me to further his designs and he committed to my charge his
new theory of the reproduction of drones and female bees. The result
of the case thus consigned to me is as follows, conclusions that I
have come to derive from careful observations for many seasons, viz.,
_videlicet_.
To produce drones the workers fecundate the worker larvæ in royal
cells with drone’s semen, which gives the elements of queens. The
workers supply the said larva with animal secretion, water, bee-bread
and honey, until it secretes sufficient material for a queen, and
when the larva arrives at maturity it is then metamorphosed to an egg
substance, from thence it passes to a chrysalis state, and in the
pupa state her ovary is formed and impregnated with semen retained in
the larva state imparting the elements of life. She then leaves her
cell and is prepared to lay eggs that produce drones only, without
further fecundation, and when the drones are matured from their natural
genital propensities deposit their semen in the queen’s spermatheca to
enable her to fecundate her full grown eggs to produce workers, and
also deposit semen where the workers can obtain it in the abscence
of the drones, to perfect queens, and for storing it in their combs,
where it retains its vitality at least from the time that the drones
are expelled until they are reproduced the following season. It is
ascertained that the drones and queens can be hybridized by their drone
progenitors in the embryo state, which is conclusive evidence of their
being fecundated with drones’ semen.
To produce workers the drones deposit their sperm in the queen’s
spermatheca while on the wing (and on top, clasping the drone’s back to
herself) and from thence she fecundates full grown eggs, as they pass
the mouth of her spermatheca on the way out of her oviduct, and by the
combining of the elements of the drone and worker in one, by which the
worker is produced. Thus, there can be no logical reasoning in saying
that the workers are produced by semen, and the drones and queens are
produced without semen.
To produce queens the worker fecundates the worker larvæ in royal cells
with drone’s semen which gives the elements of the drone, worker and
queen, combined in one, in the larval state; it secretes in its growth
the proper material for perfect queens, and when the larva arrives at
maturity it is transformed to an egg-form, and then to a chrysalis, and
in that state her embryo ovary is formed and impregnates in the upper
points or sacks of her ovary, and contains the elements of myriads of
drone egg germs before leaving her cell, and her physiology is changed
in her transition from the chrysalis state to a perfect queen, and is
qualified before leaving her cell to lay eggs that will produce drones
only. To be fully qualified to produce workers she must receive a
deposit of semen from the drone in her spermatheca. If once filled with
semen it is efficacious through life, and qualifies her to fecundate
the full grown drone eggs as they pass the mouth of her spermatheca,
and causes them to produce workers, and to lay all the eggs, both male
and female and workers, that the colony may require. It is ascertained
that the embryo drone, workers and queen can each be hybridized in
the ovary, egg or larva state, which is communicated to the whole
production. I think the evidence conclusive in the reproduction of
the queen. The fertile workers are produced by the workers taking the
drone’s semen into their stomachs, and from thence it is transmitted
to their embryo ovary, and fecundates it, which gives the elements
of life to the progeny, and qualifies them to lay eggs which produce
drones only, unless the eggs are further fecundated by being brought
into contact with semen. It appears that the young queen’s ovary on
leaving her cell, and the ovary of the fertile worker when fecundated,
are identical in the production of drone eggs. Therefore, the evidence
is that semen is the agent in both cases.
I wish to call attention particularly to the following points: 1st. The
embryo ovary of young queens must be fructified before she leaves her
cell with drone’s semen, which gives the elements of life to her drone
progeny, and forms the basis for the whole progeny of bees. To produce
the 3 sexes of bees there are 3 distinct fecundations. 1st. The embryo
ovary of the pupa queen to produce the drones. 2d. The full grown egg
to produce the workers. 3d. The worker larva is fecundated by the
workers with semen, given off by the drones to produce the queens. And
all in the larval state the secrete sufficient material to perfect in
their transition either drones, workers or queens, and they each can be
hybridized in the embryo state.
2d. In the reproduction of bees there are 2 distinct egg forms: 1st.
The eggs that produce the larva. 2d. The larva when it arrives at
maturity is transformed to an egg substance, of which it forms the
chrysalis that produces the perfect bees and their sexes.
3d. It requires 3 states of existence to perfect the organism of bees.
1st. The larva. 2d. The chrysalis. 3d. The perfect bee. The queen first
deposits her eggs in the proper cells or utricals in which the larva
is hatched and supplied by the workers with animal secretion and food
until their transition to an egg substance or chrysalis.
I will propose the following question for consideration: What is it
that is found in the royal jelly that is possessed of such impregnating
powers as to cause the ovaries of the workers to produce drone eggs?
Richford, N. Y., March 14, 1881.
For the American Bee Journal.
Putting Wires into Comb Foundation.