70 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



Vespa cleans her wings, thorax, and 



abdomen with her legs, like a bee, but she 



is not so particular about her hinder parts 



/\ fJV as is my lady the bee. It 



^^5^^='^^V^"^ is not necessary, as she is a 



n ^,^c^ (^ hard and polished person, 



^^/ 1^ ij ^-^ encumbered with but few 



f^" """^^^^ hairs, and those not of a 



dust-catching structure. 



Her precious antennae receive a great 

 deal of attention, and, like the bee, she has 

 implements on purpose to clean them. 



Her antenna cleaners, though not so 

 well-finished as those of the bee, resemble 

 them in structure. 



In the bend of the fourth and fifth joints 

 of each foreleg is the cleaner. 



It consists of a little flattened prong or 

 valve hanging from near the lower end of 

 the fourth joint and of a curved groove at 

 the upper end of the fifth joint. 



This groove is fitted with a circle of 

 teeth. 



