Studies on an Unusually Large Nest of Bombus terrestris (L.) (Hymenoptera, Apidae) Transferred to an Observation Box

An unusually large nest of Bombus terrestris (L.) comprising some 600-800 individuals was taken at Palmerston North on 9.11.60 and transferred to an observation box. The nest, which died out late in December , enabled observations to be made on the habits of guard bees, on the behaviour of aseasonally produced queens , on ovarian development, the discarding of larvae, and commensals. A technique for determining queen fertilization without dissection is described