. The popular natural history . Zoology. M^ THE WASP.—{VeSpa vulgaris.) The true Wasps, or Vespidce, are greo-arious in their habits, building nests in which a large but uncertain number of young are reared. The common Wasp makes its nest within the ground, sometimes taking advantage of the deserted hole of a rat or mouse, and sometimes working for itself. The substance of which the nest is made is a paper-like materal, obtained by nibbling woody fibres from decayed trees or bark, and kneading it to a paste between the jaws. The general shape of the nest is globular, and the v/alls are
. The popular natural history . Zoology. M^ THE WASP.—{VeSpa vulgaris.) The true Wasps, or Vespidce, are greo-arious in their habits, building nests in which a large but uncertain number of young are reared. The common Wasp makes its nest within the ground, sometimes taking advantage of the deserted hole of a rat or mouse, and sometimes working for itself. The substance of which the nest is made is a paper-like materal, obtained by nibbling woody fibres from decayed trees or bark, and kneading it to a paste between the jaws. The general shape of the nest is globular, and the v/alls are of considerable thickness, in order to guard the cells from falling earth, a circular aperture being left, through which the inhabitants can enter or leave their home. The cells are hexagonal, and laid tier above tier, each story being supported by little pillars, made oi' , the same substance as the cells, and all the open ends being downwards, instead of laid horizontally, as is the case with the bees. It will thus Le seen that, on account of this arrangement, the nurse- v/asps are enabled to get at the grubs as they lie, or ratner hang, in their cells, with their heads downwards. The grubs are fat, white, black-headed creatures, very well known to fishermen, who find them excellent bait after they have been baked so as to render them sufficiently hard to remain on the hook. When they are ab lut to enter the pupal state, they close the mcuths of their cells with a silken cover, through which the black eyes are plainly visible, and there wait until they emerj;e in the perfect state. The grubs are fed with othnr injects, fruit, su- gar, meat, or honey, the n-ingled mass being dis- gorged from the siomachs of the nurses and thus given to their charge. There are separate cells for males, femrles, and neu- ters, ihe two former classes only being produced towards the end of autumn, so as to keep up a supply for the succeeding year. There are, pe. laps, few insects so important to
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
