140 WASPS [CH. V 



When once hibernation has set in a very great degree 

 of cold can be endured with immunity. I have known 

 wasps exposed to a temperature of 10 F. (22 F. below 

 the freezing point) without any ill effects. On the other 

 hand unseasonable warmth awakes them and they are 

 then liable to disaster. I have seen "queen" wasps on 

 the wing in the open on December 26th and on February 

 7th. Hence a severe winter which keeps them dormant 

 is favourable and likely to be followed by an abundance 

 of wasps in the following summer, while the reverse is the 

 case if the winter be mild with a few intermittent "snaps" 

 of hard weather. 



The first business of the duly awakened " queen " is to 

 find a spot suitable for her nest. Our commonest English 

 species build "underground," and for these a deserted 

 mouse-hole, a crevice in a wall, the thatch of a barn and 

 other similar places are eligible building sites. Prospect- 

 ing "queens" may often be seen in April and May 

 searching along hedge-banks and walls for a place to 

 their liking. 



When suited the "queen" takes notes of the surround- 

 ings so as to know her bearings and to be able to return 

 home. She then proceeds to gather material for the 

 construction of her nest. This she obtains by rasping off 

 with her jaws the weathered surface of wooden posts, 

 palings, etc.: rotten wood is not used. Nearly any oak 

 fence in the open country bears upon it hundreds of marks 

 as if it had been lightly scraped with the finger nail; 

 these marks are made by the jaws of wasps. A fair sized 

 pellet having been collected and moistened by saliva from 



