56 BEES AND WASPS [CH. 



the wasp-grub until the latter has spun its cocoon. 

 Eventually the beetle larva completely devours the 

 wasp-grub and accomplishes its own metamorphosis 

 within the cocoon provided for it by its prey. 



As the autumn advances the strength of a wasp 

 community steadily dwindles, though individuals may 

 linger on as late as early December. As food sup- 

 plies fall short the "workers" hasten the end by 

 themselves devouring any grubs and pupae that may 

 still be within the cells. Eventually the entire popu- 

 lation, with the exception of the young "queens" 

 who, as already explained have long before gone into 

 winter quarters, perishes, and the nest with its 

 remaining contents falls to ruin under the attacks 

 of mice, beetles, earwigs, woodlice, and the like. 



It is perhaps advisable to enter a short plea on 

 behalf of wasps. They are commonly regarded as 

 an unmitigated nuisance. It should, however, be 

 remembered that unless provoked they do not use 

 their sting ; so long as hasty movements are avoided 

 it is possible to stand with impunity right against a 

 wasp's nest and watch all that is going on. Also it 

 is only when fruit is ripe that they do serious damage 

 granted that in a "wasp year" the loss inflicted 

 may be very great : nevertheless in the earlier part of 

 the season they are good friends to the gardener and 

 fruit-grower, for they destroy enormous numbers of 

 caterpillars, and especially of green-fly and black-fly, 



