1901. Barrington & Moffat. — Wasps in Wicklow. 199 



Vespa germanica fluctuates more than V. vulgaris in 

 numerical strength. Of the total number killed (115), 90 were 

 obtained in the three years 1S97, 1900, and 1901, and only 25 

 in the remaining five years. V. germanica is said by Mr. 

 Saunders to be almost as common as vulgaris in the south of 

 England. 



It is well known that Vespa tufa occurred in unusually large 

 numbers in man}' parts of Ireland in 1899 (see Irish Naturalist, 

 vol. viii., pp. 163, 208, and 209). The number of queens killed at 

 Kassaroe that year amounted to 50 ; while in the course of the 

 remaining seven years only 69 were killed altogether. V. rufa 

 did not, however, prevail here to nearly so great an extent as 

 it did in parts of Counties Carlow, Derry, and Down, accord- 

 ing to notes furnished by Mr. D. R. Pack-Beresford (/. A^, vol. 

 viii., p. 209) ; for out of a total of 361 queen wasps killed by that 

 gentleman, as many as 261 — or 72 per cent. — were of this species, 

 whereas its percentage at Fassaroe was only 46^. 



Of the two tree- wasps, Vespa sylvestris and V. uorvegica, the 

 former is much the more common in this locality — unless the 

 habits of the two differ so largely as to affect the proportions 

 captured, w r hich does not appear probable. It may be pointed 

 out that the queens of these two species, added together, 

 amount to more than a fourth (27 per cent.) of the whole 

 number ; a very large proportion, considering how much more 

 numerous are the nests of the ground-building species. 



Concerning the rare Vespa austriaca, of which altogether 17 

 specimens have been obtained here in the eight years treated 

 of, it is important to note that in 1897, 1899, and 1901 the 

 wasps killed were forwarded for examination in two or more 

 instalments, each instalment consisting of the wasps killed 

 up to the date of sending ; and in each case it was found that 

 V. austriaca occurred chiefly in the later lots. Thus, out of 

 201 wasps killed up to June 17th, 1897, only one was referred 

 to that rare species ; but three kiHed between June 18th and 

 24th were all V. austriaca. In 1899 two lots of 35 and 76 

 respectively, killed before the end of May, consisted solely of 

 the more common kinds ; but 112 killed in the first thirteen 

 days of June comprised two V. austriaca; and a further consign- 

 ment of 12 between June 14th and July 9th contained 4 

 specimens of the rarity. Again, in 1900, the only specimen of 

 V. austriaca obtained turned up in the last lot forwarded for 



