. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects -- Ontario Periodicals. 1904 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 17 A few interesting things—entomologically speaking— come under my notice in the past season: — Vespa Diabolica. In the 34th report of the parent Society, page 11, will be found a notice of a colony of this species which had their nest under the cap of a newel-post of a flight of steps to the verandah of the residence of J. H. Simmons, Esq. Attention was first drawn to this colony by a servant maid, who, while sweeping the steps, knocked her broom upon the post and
. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects -- Ontario Periodicals. 1904 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 17 A few interesting things—entomologically speaking— come under my notice in the past season: — Vespa Diabolica. In the 34th report of the parent Society, page 11, will be found a notice of a colony of this species which had their nest under the cap of a newel-post of a flight of steps to the verandah of the residence of J. H. Simmons, Esq. Attention was first drawn to this colony by a servant maid, who, while sweeping the steps, knocked her broom upon the post and brought upon herself an attack from the wasps. With a swollen and in- flamed face, she rushed to her mistress, exclaiming: "Ah, Madame, les petites betes jaiines sont venues me piquez;" (Ah, Ma'am, the little yellow flies have stung me). Through the kindness of Mr. Simmons, I am now able to lay the nest ?of the wasps before you. It contains, you perceive, one tier of cells only, and this was closely attached to the under side of the cap. The number of cells is seven hundred. Between the cap and the top of the post itself was a small space as there was between the side casing and the post. The insects worked in the confined space under the cap and carried on their oper- ations in darkness. They found entrance and exit through a small hole in a joint of the casing. The means taken by the wasps to prevent intrusion by predacious insects is remarkable. They suspended a series of paper curtains, some fifteen in number, which closed up the space between the post and the inner sides of the casing, &o that an intruding insect, groping in the dark, would find itself entangled in a veritable* labyrinth. If H happened to strike the well guarded way of the wasps, it would doubtless meet with a warm Fig'. 3. Larva of Wasp : dorsal view, Fig. 4. Parasite of Americana, showing greatly enlarged. under side, much enlarged. It may be wondered how the larv
Size: 1892px × 1320px
Photo credit: © Library Book Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectinsectp, bookyear1872
