WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



designed merely for a dwelling-place for the mother of 

 the family. 



But although we did not get distinct pockets, there 

 was, in at least one nest, a supply of food that would 

 have far exceeded the wants of a single Isnrva.. We 

 did not succeed in finding eggs on different groups of 

 beetles; but from a nest into which the wasp was still 

 carrying food we took a half-grown larva which was 

 identified as being hers. The fact, too, that a wasp occu- 

 pies a nest for so long a time as ten days or two weeks 

 points to the conclusion that she uses it for a number of 

 eggs which are laid at intervals. 



Cerceris digs her nest, deep as it is, all at once. In 

 this she is a contrast to her near relatives of the genus 

 Philanthus, who busy themselves for an hour or so every 

 morning with fresh excavations. 



On the eighth of July the weather was so warm and 

 bright that we went down to the garden at half past 

 eight o'clock, knowing that it was rather early, but 

 hoping that the hot sunshine would tempt the wasps 

 to industry. We had walked up and down several times, 

 when suddenly, right in the pathway, a nest appeared. 

 A great quantity of loose earth had been taken out and 

 heaped up, probably on the preceding day, and in the 

 midst of this a little hole had been opened since we 



144 



