BLACK REED WASP 



395 



Photo by P. G. H. 



FIG. 132. BLACK REED- WASP 



a. & b. Male wasp guarding entrance to nest. c. Glass tube containing nest, provisions and egg 



Natural size. 



inserted the tubes, which were closed at one end, into paste- 

 board boxes, leaving the open end of each projecting, so that 

 the entrances were in plain view, but the main part of the 

 passages were quite dark, within the boxes. Thus I made 

 conditions in the tubes exactly like those of the reeds that 

 the insects naturally chose for their nests. 



They were an instant success, and within an hoiu* or 

 two, all were occupied by enthusiastic couples. In the glass 

 nests, I could watch everything that went on. All that was 

 necessary for me to do in order to observe the occupants' 

 behavior, was to remove the box covers, and replace them 

 when I had finished. 



