90 



Insect Architecture. 



building operations, in order to procure food for the young 

 grubs, which now require all her care. In a few weeks these 

 become perfect wasps, and lend their assistance in the 

 extension of the edifice ; enlarging the original coping of the 

 foundress by side walls, and forming another platform of 

 cells, suspended to the first by columns, as that had been 

 suspended to the ceiling. 



In this manner several platforms of combs are constructed, 

 the outer walls being extended at the same time; and, by 



Section of the Social-Wasp's Nest. 



a a, the external wall ; I, c c, five small terraces of cells for the neuter wasps, 

 dd,ee, three rows of larger cells for the males and females. 



the end of the summer, there is generally from twelve to 

 fifteen platforms of cells. Each contains about 1060 cells 

 forty-nine being contained in an inch and a half square, and, 

 of course, making the enormous number of about 16,000 

 cells in one colony. Reaumur, upon these data, calculates 



