VESPIDAE SOCIAL WASPS 



movement, be made, the wasps are unaware of the presence of an 

 intruder. It is, however, well ascertained that if they are 

 molested at their work, more especially when they are actually 

 engaged in the duties of the nest, they are then extremely vin- 

 dictive, and follow for a considerable distance those who have 

 irritated them. The East Indian V. velutina is specially fierce 

 when aroused, and is said by Home to have followed a party 



FIG. 34. Ischnogaster mellyi. Java. A, Female imago (the line at the side shows its 

 length) ; B, nest, C, maxilla ; D, labium ; E, mandible (tip downwards). The nest 

 is probably upside down, although shown here as by de Saussure. 



through dense jungle for miles, and on some occasions to have 

 stung animals, and even human beings, to death. 



This vindictiveness is, however, only an exceptional mood due 

 to some interference with the colony. Even the hornet, not- 

 withstanding its threatening appearance, is harmless unless 

 unduly provoked ; its nests and their inhabitants can be kept in 

 domesticity, exhibited to strangers, even moved from place to 

 place, yet the hornets will not take offence if due gentleness be 

 observed. It is said that wasps will rear the progeny of a neigh- 

 bour in circumstances where this assistance is necessary. Hess 

 has related a case in which a queen-hornet had commenced a nest, 

 and was killed by an accident, leaving young brood in the comb 





