INSECT BEHAVIOR 



297 



parture. Very often after one thorough study of the topography of her 

 home has been made, a wasp goes away a second time with much less 

 circling or with none at all. The second diagram [Fig. 295, B] gives a 

 fair illustration of one of these more hasty departures. . . . 



"If the examination of the objects about the nest makes no impression 

 upon the wasp, or if it is not remembered, she ought not to be incon- 

 venienced nor thrown off her track when weeds and stones are removed 

 and the surface of the ground is smoothed over; but this is just what 

 happens. Aporus fasciatus entirely lost her way when we broke off the 

 leaf that covered her nest, but found it without trouble w T hen the missing 

 object was replaced. All the species of Cerceris were extremely annoyed 



FIG. 295. Locality studies made by a wasp, Sphc.\ ichncumonca. .4, a thorough study; B, a 

 hasty study; n, nest. After PECKHAM, from Bull. Wisconsin Geol. and Nat. Hist. Survey. 



if we placed any new object near their nesting-places. Our Ammophila 

 refused to make use of her burrow after we had drawn some deep lines 

 in the dust before it. The same annoyance is exhibited when there is 

 any change made near the spot upon which the prey of the wasp, what- 

 ever it may be, is deposited temporarily." 



If we take, as one criterion of intelligence, the power to choose be- 

 tween alternatives, then insects are more intelligent than is generally 

 admitted. The control of locomotion, the selection of prey, and the 

 avoidance of enemies, as results of experience, indicate powers of dis- 

 crimination. The power of intercommunication, conceded to exist 

 among social Hymenoptera, implies some degree of intelligence. 



