This story was originally published on HackerNoon at: https://hackernoon.com/economy-of-energy. When free to choose, the Osmia settles by preference in the small reeds. Check more stories related to science at: https://hackernoon.com/c/science. You can also check exclusive content about #science, #non-fiction, #hackernoon-books, #project-gutenberg, #books, #jean-henri-fabre, #ebooks, #bramble-bees-and-others, and more. This story was written by: @jeanhenrifabre. Learn more about this writer by checking @jeanhenrifabre's about page, and for more stories, please visit hackernoon.com. What stimulus does the insect obey when it employs the reserve powers that slumber in its race? Of what use are its industrial variations? The Osmia will yield us her secret with no great difficulty. Let us examine her work in a cylindrical habitation. I have described in full detail, in the foregoing pages, the structure of her nests when the dwelling adopted is a reed-stump or any other cylinder; and I will content myself here with recapitulating the essential features of that nest-building.