. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects -- Ontario Periodicals. 54 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 36 grapple fiercely with it, clasp it tightly to its chest, and then drive its proboscis into its body—the victim soon succumbed. While sitting by the pool I learned, with other facts, that wasps resort to the water to drink. I do not think that this should occasion surprise, for the masti- cation of wood pulp, for the construction of their nests, must be thirsty work for the wasps. At the edge of the pool some broken pieces of rock had fallen in, and a little water found i
. Annual report. Entomological Society of Ontario; Insect pests; Insects -- Ontario Periodicals. 54 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 36 grapple fiercely with it, clasp it tightly to its chest, and then drive its proboscis into its body—the victim soon succumbed. While sitting by the pool I learned, with other facts, that wasps resort to the water to drink. I do not think that this should occasion surprise, for the masti- cation of wood pulp, for the construction of their nests, must be thirsty work for the wasps. At the edge of the pool some broken pieces of rock had fallen in, and a little water found its way between them. I saw a specimen of Vespa diabolica, Sauss, alight on the edge, walk down to the water, take a drink, and then fly away. Soon a second came to the same spot, and did likewise. Then there was a flash of brighter yellow; and a very bustling object came on the scene, and took the same course. I caught this insect to make sure of its identity—it was Yespa germanica, Fabricius. Soon afterwards a fourth insect, a specimen of Polistes pallipes, St. Farg., came to the same place for refreshment. No doubt all these wasps had nests not far away, and that this drinking-place was one of common resort for Fig. 2. Water Snails. Another species of the wasp that frequented the pool was the Mud Wasp, Pelo- pceus cementarius, Drury. It came to gather material for the construction of its— we may well say—orphanages. These are built of mud, in snug nooks of houses, or other buildings. They consist of cells—each of about the capacity of a pea-nut— closely packed in masses which are smoothed on the outside. Before closing up a cell, the mother wasp fills it with spiders paralyzed by its sting, and drops a soli- tary egg amongst them. The mud castle contains no chamber for its builder—she Boon dies. Clinging to the rocky sides and bottom of the pool, I found a number of Water Snails, belonging to the genus Limnsea. Their shells appeared larger than those of L
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectinsectp, bookyear1872
