CH. V] WASPS 145 



One of the first acts of the wasp in full power of her 

 limbs is to clean herself with the brushes and combs 

 already described (see p. 77). Then she walks about 

 upon the comb, visiting cells which contain large larvae 

 and touches their heads with her jaws. Each larva so 

 visited gives out of its mouth a drop of liquid which 

 the young wasp eagerly swallows. For a day or two 

 the young " worker," for such she is, remains within the 

 nest and begins to relieve the "queen" of some of her 

 labours. When the latter returns to the nest with a load 

 of food, the worker takes it from her and distributes it to 

 the grubs. 



After a couple of days the young worker issues from 

 the nest and sets about the task of collecting food 

 for the grubs and fresh material for the enlargement 

 of the nest. So soon as the " queen " has reared about a 

 dozen helpers she gives up to them the entire care of the 

 grubs and of building. Henceforth she remains within 

 the nest and devotes herself solely to depositing eggs in 

 the cells prepared for her. 



Meanwhile the external appearance of the nest has 

 been changed. The umbrella-shaped covering is prolonged 

 by the " queen " and made balloon-like with a circular hole 

 at the bottom for entry and exit. Outside this she adds 

 yet other similar envelopes to the number of three or 

 four. Each wrapping is begun at the top as an umbrella 

 and continued roughly parallel with the first. 



The actions of the workers are similar to those of the 

 unaided queen. Fresh cells are added round the margin 

 of the existing comb ; the innermost wrapping is cut away 

 L. 10 



