WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



out, seized it by the antennae and backed in with it, 

 instead of taking it in forwards as was done in the other 

 case. 



Another wasp of this species carried a much larger 

 grasshopper, which was so heavy that she could not 

 jump with it, but was obliged to keep to the ground. 

 In this case only one was used instead of two, which is 

 the usual number. This wasp was first seen at a distance 

 of twenty feet from her nest, and yet she went straight 

 to the right spot without the least confusion, showing 

 that some individuals of the species have a better idea 

 of locaHty than others. 



The nest is a short, shallow tunnel with an enlarge- 

 ment at the end, within which are placed the grass- 

 hoppers, on their backs, with their heads in. Earth is 

 packed solidly into the tunnel, but not into the cavity 

 at the end. 



We took two eggs of this species. Each was placed 

 across the thorax of the grasshopper at the base of the 

 neck, on the ventral side. Both hatched at the end of 

 thirty-six hours from the time they were laid, ate for 

 three days, and then spun their cocoons. One of them 

 ate only one small grasshopper, leaving a second one 

 untouched, while the other finished the large grass- 

 hopper that formed her sole provision. 



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