iv] DIPLOPTERA 41 



seven species, all included in the genus Vespa. Their 

 nests, though founded by a single individual, are the 

 work of a vast host composed of the daughters of the 

 foundress "queen." In them are to be found during 

 the later part of the summer (1) perfect, fertile 

 females, or "queens," of whom one is the originator 

 of the nest and mother of the entire colony, while 

 the remainder are young "queens' whose function 

 it is to found similar nests in the following season : 

 (2) imperfect, sterile females, or "workers," on whom 

 falls the brunt of building the nest, providing the 

 grubs with food, and preparing cells once tenanted 

 for use a second and a third time: (3) drones, or 

 male wasps whose sole duty is to impregnate young 

 "queens" before severe weather sets in. 



The hornet (V. crabro) is much larger than any 

 of the others, being fully an inch in length : it is 

 distinguished by its colour, which is reddish brown 

 and yellow ; whereas that of all our other Vespae is 

 black and yellow: it usually constructs its nest in 

 hollow trees, or in the roof of a building; but I 

 have seen one in the side of a bank of stiff grass- 

 covered clay. This formidable insect is now decidedly 

 rare. 



Of the other six species, V. vulgaris, V. ger- 

 manica, V. rufa, generally build their nests under 

 ground, though sometimes they resort to a roof, a 

 stone wall, the thatch of a rick and other similar 



