Figure 6 shows that most entrances were at or near ground level. This
distribution also represents the distribution of nest heights since nest cavities
were generally immediately adjacent to nest entrances. The predominance
of ground level nests probably reflects a predominance of tree "cavities at the
bases of trees. Alternatively, bees may select ground level cavities for their
presumed greater shelter and sturdiness relative to cavities higher in trees.

Nest entrances tended to be near the nest bottom. By classifying nest entrances
as opening into the bottom, middle or top third of the nest cavity, we
obtained the following distribution: bottom, 58 cA; middle, 18 %; top, 24 %
(29 entrances from 20 nests). This predominance of bottom entrances is highly
improbable (P <0.002) assuming entrance position relative to the cavity is
random. This nonrandom distribution can be explained in two ways. Either
honey bees select cavities with bottom entrances, or fungal decay, which probably
produces most tree cavities, tends to expand upward from its entry point
into a tree. A bottom entrance is probably advantageous. Convectional heat loss
is smaller for nests with the entrance at the bottom than at the top.

THE NEST OF THE HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA L.)
By T. D. SEELEY Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, U.S.A.,
R. A. MORSE Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, Nero York 14853, U.S.A.
lnsectes Sociaux, Paris. 1976. Tome 23, n ~ 4, pp. 495-512.
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