THE KANSAS UNIYERSITY 



SCIENCE BULLETIN 



Vol. XIV.] October, 1922. [No. 12. 



Notes on Nesting of Polistes (Hymenoptera^ Vespidae).' 



BY DWIGHT ISELY, 

 Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas. - 



BY FAR the most abundant paper wasp in northwest Arkansas 

 is Polistes metricus Say.^ Its nests can be found almost any- 

 where attached to trees or shrubbery or under the eaves of buildings. 

 They are often quite numerous. As, for instance, along a stream for 

 a distance of about three hundred yards the writer counted twenty- 

 two nests early in May, 1921. In a small block of apple trees, 

 somewhat less than an acre in extent, seven nests of this species were 

 noted in October of the same year. About premises of the insectary 

 of the United States Bureau of Entomology at Benton ville, Ark., the 

 same season, five nests were built. 



The following notes relate largely to one of these nests which was 

 built just outside of the screen, and under a shutter, of the insectary, 

 conveniently situated for observation from within, where complete 

 immunity from stings could be enjoyed. The history of the nest is 

 as follows: 



The stem of the nest was begun May 18 by a female wasp. On 

 May 20 three cells were started, and three more were begun the next 

 day. As soon as the base of each, of these cells was built, an egg was 

 deposited in it; thus six eggs were deposited in two days. From now 

 on cells were added less frequently, but considerable time was given 

 to enlarging those already started. On May 23 two more cells were 

 started, and the walls of one of the first cells were 8 mm. long. Two 

 more cells were added May 28. An egg was deposited in one of 

 these, but not in the other until May 30. This marks the end of the 



1. Published with permission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 



2. Formerly with U. S. Bureau of Entomology: Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigation. 



3. Determined bj- Mr. S. A. Rohwer, U. S. Bureau of Entomology-. 



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