STARTING THE NEST 105 



Or if it falls out later in the season the 

 worker wasps carry it out of the nest and 

 leave it to perish. 



But if it once gets fixed in the bottom ^^ 

 of the cell, with its head hanging down, ^y^":^ 

 all it has to do is to stay there. ^^ 



This may look difficult, but it is really 

 easy, for young Vespa is now a fat, white 

 grub, or larva, with a brown head, footless, 

 it is true, but with a way of ruffling up 

 the sides of its body that enables it to fit 

 tightly in the cell and there remain. 



When the larva has reached the limit of 

 its growth it finds its mouth full of silk. 



This comes out through a hole in its lip, 

 and whenever it touches anything with its 

 mouth little viscid threads like saliva are 

 drawn out, and these harden into a fine, 

 glistening silk. 



Now young Vespa ceases to crave food. 

 She touches the side of her cell with her 

 mouth, draws back her head, touches 

 another part of her cell, draws back 



