CHAPTER V. 



WASPS. 



WITHIN the limits of the Order Hymenoptera are 

 to be found many of the most interesting and highly 

 gifted insects of our British fauna. The "Saw-flies," 

 " Ichneumon-flies " and " Gall-flies " constitute one section 

 of the Order and are characterised by possessing no sting, 

 but in its place a boring organ for piercing the surface of 

 the plant or animal within which the eggs are deposited. 

 It is however in the Aculeate (Sting-bearing) section that 

 the greatest complexity of social organisation is attained. 

 In the lower members of this section, such as the Fossores 

 and Sphegidce (Sand Wasps), we already find the maternal 

 instinct strongly developed. The females dig holes in the 

 ground, or burrow into wooden posts, bramble stems, etc., 

 and there construct one or more cells. In each cell is 

 placed a single egg and a store of animal food for the 

 nourishment of the future grub. Spiders, dipterous flies, 

 caterpillars, Aphides and many others are thrust alive, but 

 paralysed by the poison-sting of their captor, into these 

 nursery-larders. 



