122 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



He is rather sluggish as compared with 

 the workers, and likes to put his head 

 down into an empty cell and stay 

 there with only his tail visible — 

 probably taking a nap. 

 cAot-u^ Sometimes, however, he bestirs 

 himself and helps to feed the 

 larvae, going from cell to cell and popping 

 food into each wide-open mouth. 



At least, yellow-jacket drones have 

 been seen to do this in captivity. 



It is said the drone also keeps the vespi- 

 ary clean, clearing away all rubbish and 

 carrying out dead bodies. 



The workers are undeveloped females 

 that hatch from fertilised eggs. Usually 

 they have not the power to lay eggs, 

 though if the queen disappears some of 

 the better developed of the workers some- 

 times lay eggs. These are never fertilised, 

 and consequently produce nothing but 

 drones. 



Soon after the drone eggs are laid, the 



