27 



ON THE NESTS AND HABITS OF AUSTRALIAN 

 VESPID^ AND LARRIDjE. 



By Walter W. Froggatt. 



The following notes are the records of personal observations 

 extending over a number of years. These wasps are probably 

 best known to most people on account of their fearless disposition 

 and their sociable habits, for they not only build under the eaves 

 and verandahs of houses, but even come inside to construct their 

 nests. 



The Vespidce comprise a number of social wasps which form 

 large papery nests, the work of the original builders being supple- 

 mented by that of the young wasps as they hatch out, so that 

 an old nest sometimes attains considerable dimensions. Others 

 are solitary ; a single pair build the nest, which is composed of 

 clay, and after it is completed, each cell is filled with provisions 

 and the ends sealed up, the larvte being left to look after them- 

 selves. 



The two species of Pison also build clay nests exclusively, and 

 these are provisioned with spiders, which they capture iipon the 

 grass and low bushes. 



The value of these insects from an economic point of view is 

 doubtful, for while those that destroy caterpillars are worthy of 

 protection as the gardener's friend, those that prey upon spiders 

 rather counter-balance their usefulness in killing the allies of the 

 horticulturist. 



Alastor eriurgus, Saussure, Mon. Guepes Solitaires, Vol. i. 

 p. 251. 



A very common " mason wasp" in the neighbourhood of Sydney ; 

 very plentiful in February and March. 



Velvety black, about 8 lines in length, covered with scattered 

 ferruginous hairs thickest on the head and frontal portion of 



