304 



AKTICULATA: INSECTA. 



and supported by pedicels ; and the cells in a single nest, 

 in some cases, number sixteen thousand. These repre- 

 sentatives of the Hymenoptera are especially interesting 

 as being the first paper-makers ! Their nests are made of 



FIG. 385. 



FIG. 386. 



Wasp, Polistes pallipes, Lapel. 



Mud-cells or nest of the Mud-wasp. 



a paper-like substance, which is wood reduced to a paste 

 by the action of the jaws of these insects. The Wasp 

 communities are also dissolved on the approach of winter; 

 and each female that survives the winter founds a new 

 colony the ensuing spring. 



Some kinds of Wasps, however, are solitary in their 

 habits ; this is true of the Mud- wasps, .which build their 

 nests of mud (Fig. 386), and store them with spiders and 

 other insects, for their larva? to feed upon. 



The Ants or Formicidre are hymenoptera, which also 

 live in communities composed of females, males, and 

 workers ; the two first are furnished with loosely- attached 

 wings, and the last are destitute of wings. The workers 

 have the care of the nest and of the rearing of the young ; 

 they go in search of food, feed the larva?, take them into 

 the sunshine in fine weather, and back again into the nest 

 at night or when bad weather comes, and watch over 

 them' with a wonderful fidelity. Most ant-hill communi- 

 ties are composed of individuals of one and the same 

 species ; but in some cases the workers procure auxiliaries 



