198 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



seize the larvae in a nest, tear them and devour 

 them. We saw two workers drag a very large 

 larva out of its cell and cut it in two, each taking 

 a half, and only for the cruelty of their doings, it 

 was almost comical to see them stand with thorax 

 almost vertical, hold part of the victim with their 

 forelegs, and tear their food bit by bit and devour 

 it. They reminded one of little urchins picking 

 a bone. 



These wasps do not sting unless molested, yet 

 when they build low down on a verandah or 

 bush they are likely to become a nuisance, as they 

 will attack anyone rashly approaching too closely 

 to their nest. When the nest is broken down they 

 are most persistent in coming back and building 

 in the same spot. They have a powerful sting. 



Observations made on the Life History of the 

 Paper-Nest Wasp. 



(Polistes tasmaniensis.) 



A small nest of this wasp was found at Mosman 

 on 1 2th February, and the few workers resting on it 

 were captured by means of the net, at the expense 

 of a few stings, and the nest was removed. 



There were 20 cells in it made of a papery grey- 

 ish white material. Four of the cells contained each 

 one tgg; in the others there were larvae in various 

 stages of development, one in each cell. The re- 

 maining cells contained each a pupa. 



As the adult wasps found on the nest had been 

 placed in the killing bottle, an effort was rnade to 



