22O 



WASP STUDIES AFIELD 



FIG. 48. Diagram to show the way one mother 5". pictipennis studied 

 the landmarks about her nest. 



away from their burrows, leaving suddenly without getting 

 any landmarks, they have grave difficulties in returning to 

 their nests. Occasionally one departs on the wing from her 

 incompleted burrow, without any appearance of examining 

 the region. More commonly, however, they go around the 

 covered nest in widening circles, first walking near the hole, 

 then running, hopping and at last flying in larger circles, 

 and finally soaring off to the fields in quest of prey. One 

 wasp which we stealthily watched seemed unusually precise 

 in her manner of examining the location before departing 



