LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS OF POLISTES METRICUS 2' 



LIFE HISTORY AND II AH ITS OF POLISTES METRIi US, 



SAY. 



FRANK C. PELLETT. 



The summer of 1915 was not a favorable season in which to 

 study life histories of such ins< its - the Gold Banded Paper- 

 Maker. The weather was too cool and there was so much rain 

 that results were anything but satisfactory. It is very prob- 

 able that in a season of normal temperature the time required 

 in the various stages of development would be somewhat 

 shorter than was the case in 1915. However, since I have 

 spent considerable time in observing these insects during the 

 past summer. I am hopeful that these notes may be of inter- 

 est. Two years before, a similar observation was begun, only 

 to be interrupted shortly by the destruction of the nest. 



The nest of this wasp is composed of a single comb, or series 

 cf cells opening downward. Unlike the species of vespa com- 

 monly known as hornets and yellow jackets, no outer cover- 

 ing is provided. While the nests are often placed under the 

 cornice of a house roof, they seem to be more often pi 

 near the ground under a box, or in an old can or other similar 

 situation. Discarded beehives and winter cases offer attrac- 

 tive situations on my grounds and I have foun - "al of 

 the nests during the past summer. 



The first nest was found on June 6th. At that time about 

 half of the cells were built and a count showed that eleven 

 contained larvae and fifteen contained eggs. Two or three 

 partly finished cells were empty. This nest was placed under- 

 neath the cover of an empty beehive. A : etter situation for 

 observation could hardly have been found, since it was pos- 

 sible to take up the cover and hold it in any desired position, 

 and return it to the former place, without disturbing normal 

 conditions. 



Figure 43, A. shows the nest as it appeared at that time with 

 the mother polistes resting above. To get the proper per- 

 spective the pictures should be held- above the head and be 

 seen from below instead of from above. 



