74 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



gin, is a row of hooks that fit into a groove 

 running along the under edge of the upper 

 wing. 



When the hooks are caught in the 

 groove the wings are so closely locked 

 together that the two look and act like 

 one. 



The wings of the true wasps differ from 

 those of the diggers and of the bees by 

 being folded, fan-like, down the middle. 



This fold occurs in the large wings, and 

 when the wasp is at rest with her fans 

 closed she has an exceedingly slender and 

 elegant-looking pair of wings lying along 

 the sides of her body. 



This lengthwise folding of the wings is 

 convenient when Vespa crawls about the 

 narrow spaces of her nest, and it more 

 eifectually disposes of them when they are 

 not wanted than the bee's method of un- 

 hooking hers and slipping the under ones 

 out of the way below the upper ones. 

 Vespa does not seem to unhook her wings 



