INSECT INTRUDERS. 



cell has a hole in it at one end from 

 which the matured bee has escaped. 



This little bee has a companion in the 

 well-known leaf-cutting bee which I have 

 alluded to in the chapter on the Garden 

 since his forays extend into that region. 



There are several of the Wasp Group 

 which have the same habit of making 

 clay cells in which to deposit their eggs, 

 one or two of which are common visitors 

 in our verandahs in the monsoon 

 months, but they provision them with 

 other things than honey ; live green 

 caterpillars being one of the chief delica- 

 cies provided for the future grubs. These 

 wasps have the same aptitude for seizing 

 upon available crevices or holes punkha 

 holes in the walls, rifle barrels left 

 unwarily upright in a rack without a 

 protecting plug of cotton wool in the tops 

 of the barrels, books standing in the 

 library bookshelves (I have found the 

 insects a perfect plague in this latter 

 way), hollow bamboos used in the thatch 



