Wasps 



branches of the trees. The great yespa crabro or hornet of Eng- 

 land and Europe, which is the species most commonly referred 

 to in English books of reference, was accidentally imported into 

 this country many years ago and established itself in the vicinity 

 of New York City. 1 believe it was first discovered there by Mr. 

 James Angus. It has since spread and multiplied very slowly, and 

 is not known to occur very far from the place where it was origi- 

 nally discovered. It is rarely found in parts of Long Island and 

 New Jersey. There is also an unconfirmed report of its establish- 

 ment near Charleston, S. C. This wasp, which is more yellow 

 in color, builds preferably in the trunks of old trees. 



The smaller yellow-jackets (yespa germanica and K. cuneata) 

 build their nests above ground, in or beneath stumps or stones, 

 and in excavations in the open ground. The underground nests 

 are frequently very large, sometimes more than the size of a half- 

 bushel basket. Access to these nests is gained by a single (rarely 

 two) small opening which leads directly from the center of the 

 nests. The loose paper covering is not as tough and thick as 

 that with the big hornet. 



These large underground nests may be exterminated, when 

 their location is discovered, by pouring in a little bisulphide of 

 carbon. The time of the application, however, should be chosen, 

 and it should be after dusk; otherwise there is great danger of 

 being stung. The colonies in the large hornets' nests are rather 

 easily destroyed about nightfall by drenching them with a bucket 

 of kerosene. This should be done late rather than early, because 

 just at dusk a few late-returning workers will " raise Cain " over 

 the destruction of their home. 



The other common social wasps found in this country belong 

 to the genus Polistes. They are the long-bodied, black wasps 

 with folded wings and slender abdomens. They are frequently 

 found in houses in the autumn looking for places to pass the winter. 



The nest of the Polistes wasps consists of a single comb 

 without any envelope. They are found commonly in country 

 barns, and are also attached to bushes and to the lower surfaces 

 of stones which are slightly raised from the ground. They are 

 generally horizontal in this country, but European species build 

 their combs vertically. Polistes feeds upon caterpillars and also 

 vegetable material as well, and its habits in other respects are 

 very much like those of the other social wasps. 



29 



