284 HYMENOPTERA 



If one is so unfortunate as to disturb these when pushing 

 between leafy branches, great numbers of the little ants 

 rush out, and, getting a firm grip with their man- 

 dibles, inflict a sting which leaves a burning irritation 

 for several hours. It is particularly unpleasant when 

 they find their way down one's back or into one's hair ! 



The most noticeable wasps are species of the genus 

 Belonogaster : large, dark, grey-brown insects with long 

 pedicle to the abdomen, known as " E'numba " by the 

 natives. Their nest is of papery substance, and formed 

 of a single tier of cells supported from a slender stalk, 

 with the open mouths downwards. It is attached to 

 the under side of an overhanging rock, or to the eaves 

 of a house, and in a favourite site numbers of nests are 

 seen close together. 



Natives are very much afraid of the sting of these 

 wasps, which is certainly extremely painful, and do not 

 like going near their nesting places. It must be acknow- 

 ledged that there is reason for this, for sometimes a 

 wasp will fly ofE the nest and viciously sting any one 

 who it thinks has come too close, returning immedi- 

 ately to the nest. I noticed, however, that if one allows 

 a nest to grow up in a position constantly approached 

 or passed by, the wasps become accustomed to people, 

 and are inofifensive as a general rule. 



I allowed several nests to be built from the underside 

 of the ridge of my tent, and the colonies grew to a large 

 size without any sign of aggressiveness on the part of 

 the wasps. But one day an officious individual, perhaps 

 a freshly hatched and inexperienced one who had not 

 been taught properly, flew off at me when I came into 

 the tent and inflicted a vicious sting. This sealed the 

 death-warrant, and all the nests were destroyed. 



The grubs in their cells hang mouth downwards, the 

 anterior end of the body protruding slightly. They are 

 watched over by certain individuals who act as nurses, 



