124 WASPS AND THEIR WAYS 



nest. They are considerably larger than 

 the drones, and can be recognised at a 



glance. 

 On sunny days they fly abroad, 



where they mate with the drone. 



Each queen at that time receives 

 ^/^^^^"^^^(ll^Sfi^ quantity of fertilising material, 



which she stores in a receptacle 

 that exists for that purpose, and this 

 material she uses at will to fertilise her 

 eggs. The queens mate but once, the 

 supply they receive lasting as long as 

 they live. Queens and drones spin their 

 own cocoons just as the workers do. 

 Indeed, the development of the queens 

 and drones from egg to pupa, and from 

 pupa to perfect insect or imago, is essen- 

 tially the same as the development of the 

 workers. 



Several sizes of wasps may always be 

 found in the same nest. Not only are the 

 queens larger than the drones, and the 

 drones larger than the workers, but queens, 



