38 THE SOCIAL WASPS 



fully studied by Prof. Carpenter and Mr. Pack 

 Beresford. Vespa vulgaris has a beetle parasite, 

 but this is somewhat of a rarity. This creature 

 Metoecus paradoxus lays its egg in the cell of the 

 wasp, and enters the body of the larva, eventu- 

 ally entirely devouring it. The hornet also 

 has a beetle associate, but this is a great rarity. 

 It is a large black species of the " Devil's coach 

 horse " or " Cock tail " tribe (Vdleius dilatatus), 

 but in what relation it stands to the hornet 

 beyond inhabiting its nest is not known. 



