270 



WASPS. 



builders, the mere enlargement of the cavity to give room for 

 the necessary enlargements of the family establishment is no 

 small labour ; and for those who can watch quietly it is a very 

 pretty sight to observe the workers coming up from below 

 laden, each one, with the little morsel of earth or pebble 

 which was required to be excavated. 



Towards autumn the economy of the nest changes, males 

 and females are produced, and shortly after the Wasp colony, 

 as a social establishment, comes to an end. The drones, or 

 males, having fulfilled their allotted work by pairing with the 

 females, die, so also do the workers ; the nest decays, and all 

 that remains of the summer colonies and their quarters (ex- 

 cepting where nests may have been built in some dry locality 

 where they are as safe as in a cabinet) are the females, which 

 will leave the nest, and, hybernating in their selected shelters 

 until spring comes round again, thus complete the year's 

 circle of Wasp life.* 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The following notes give 

 details of methods of operation, or recipes for applications, 

 found effective in destroying Wasps' nests, amongst which it 

 will be seen that cyanide of potassium is especially mentioned 

 as efficacious ; but, this being a violent poison, I do not advise 

 the use of it myself, and do not think that the use of it should 

 be even permitted, excepting in absolutely trustworthy hands. 



During an experience of a good many years, in days gone 

 by, I have found one of the most convenient methods of 

 destruction of nests of Ground Wasps (both as doing the work 

 thoroughly and without danger to the operator) was pouring a 

 ladleful or part of a ladleful of tar down the entrance passage 

 into the nest at a time when most of the tenants are at home. 

 If this is properly managed, and there is only one entrance to 

 the nest, probably the work will be complete, and nothing 

 more needed than to dig up the nest and destroy it after a few 

 days, so that Wasps that may develop within may not make 

 their way out when the tar has dried. Sometimes the ground 

 nests have two tunnels down into them, and in this case the 

 opening of the second one will soon become obvious from the 

 increased traffic and will need attending to, as well as the main 

 entrance. In case the nest is a strong one, and care has not 



* In the above account of the general points of Wasp life and habits I have 

 written mainly from my own observations, taken many years ago, when collect- 

 ing and observing to help my late brother Dr. Edw. L. Ormerod, of Brighton, 

 whilst preparing his volume entitled 'British Social Wasps,' regarding such 

 points as required local attention in their own habitats. And to this work I 

 refer the reader tor the results of my brother's minute microscopic investiga- 

 tions into the anatomy of Wasps ; and also the reproductive powers of the 

 abortive or partially-developed females commonly known as workers. — E. A. 0. 



