ANTS, BEES, WASPS, AND THEIR KINDRED 1 17 



though it occasionally makes subterranean nests. 

 Social wasps store no food for winter use, nor do the 

 communities hibernate like those of the ants. At the 

 close of each season all the drones and the whole work- 

 ing population of the nest perish, only the young queens 

 remaining alive. These, having mated with the 

 drones before severe weather sets in, betake themselves 

 to dry, sheltered hiding-places, where they lie dormant 

 until the advent of spring. Then each comes forth, 

 constructs a small nest, and lays a few eggs therein. 

 From these small beginnings the great wasp com 

 munities of the late summer develop. The queen's 

 fertility seems well-nigh inexhaustible, and for many 

 weeks only workers are produced. In this way 

 " labour " is provided for the enlargement of the nest, 

 and for the nurture of the queen's enormous family. 

 This amazing multiplication of sexless units continues 

 until the autumn, when the drones and young queens 

 destined to secure the continuity of the species are 

 reared. The material used by wasps for nest-building 

 is really a kind of paper, made from wood or other 

 vegetable fibre, worked up with the insect's saliva. 

 The nest is not built up from a foundation as we build 

 a house, but is hung from some support, such as a 

 branch or root. It consists of combs of hexagonal cells., 

 in which the grubs are reared, and an outer cover. 

 The latter is continually cut away and renewed as the 

 combs are extended, or when new ones are added. 

 Adult wasps are practically omnivorous, but they are 

 especially partial to sweet liquids. It has been ascer- 

 tained, however, that the food brought to the grubs 

 consists largely of the soft parts of insects. 



The great bee family 1 is represented in Britain by 

 i Apida. 



