FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



This genus (Plate XCI) makes a broad, 



flat nest without a protecting cover. P. 



pallipes has an almost uniformly brown abdomen; annu- 



laris, a conspicuous, yellow margin on the first abdominal 



segment; and variatus, many yellow bands or spots. 



This genus makes a paper cover for the 

 Vespa nests w r hich are otherwise much like those 



of Polistes, except that there are a number of "floors." 

 The large, gray hornet's nest, hanging on trees or from the 

 eaves of houses, is that of V. maculata (Plates XC and XCI). 

 At the start, this nest has a long, tubular entrance. An 

 often equally large nest, but brown or yellow and usually 

 placed in some protected spot such as in a hollow tree or 

 under a porch-floor, is made by the European V. crabro 

 (Plate XC), which was introduced, several years ago, 

 near New York. The remainder of our species, the yellow- 

 jackets, usually make smaller nests and place them either 

 near or under the ground. In the latter case they usually 

 start in .a deserted field mouse's burrow. We have the 

 following " Yellow- jackets " in the Northeast. 



1. Eyes touching base of mandibles or separated from 

 them only by a line 2. 



Eyes remote from the base of the mandibles 3. 



2. Black and white arctica. 



Black and yellow diabolica. 



3. Black and white consobrina. 



Black and yellow, .cominunis (including what has 



been called, in America, germanica and vulgaris). Plate 

 XC. 



SPHECOIDEA 



Dr. Bequaert kindly drew up the following key. It 

 does not include the NITELID/E; they are small species 

 and if a specimen of this family runs to couplet 2, it may 

 be recognized by the marginal cell having no appendix 

 or the venation of the hind wings being almost absent; 

 if it runs to couplet 10, note that it has but one apical 

 spur on each middle tibia and the second submarginal cell 

 is petiolate. The Peckhams have written both accurately 



