POLISTES 177 



larvae in different stages, while others were 

 capped over, and still others contained eggs. 



It was necessary to keep the nest shut 

 up in a box for several days, and in that 

 time the confined wasps, perhaps becom- 

 ing crazed by adversity, so far forgot 

 themselves as to pull the larvae out of the 

 cells and suck their juices. 



Wishing to save some, if possible, the 

 captor removed the unnatural nurses, and 

 undertook the delicate task of feeding the 

 larval infants herself. 



Holding up the little nest by its stem to 

 investigate the state of affairs, she discov- 

 ered four full-grown, but still hungry larvae, 

 with protruding heads and wide-open 

 mouths. 



Their foster-nurse offered one a drop of 

 maple syrup on the end of a wooden 

 toothpick, and to her delight the larval 

 infant greedily sucked it up. 



One by one the appetites of the four 

 were finally satisfied — though it seemed 



12 



