266 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



FIG. 423. White-faced wasp 

 ( Vespa maculata] 



well aware. The adults are predacious and feed their young on 



insects which have been masticated. Not infrequently, where an 



outbreak of caterpillars occurs, wasps 

 will be seen carrying them off to their 

 nests in considerable numbers ; we 

 have observed them at work on the 

 cotton boll-worm and leaf-worms in 

 the South. But two genera are com- 

 mon in the East. Polls tes are black 

 ringed with yellow, or are brownish, 

 and have long, spindle-shaped abdo- 

 mens. Their nests are composed of a 



single comb and are attached by a short stem. The genus Vespa 



includes the hornets and yellow- jackets, which are black, spotted 



or banded with yellow, or yellowish-white, 



with a short, stout body, and the abdomen 



attached by a very short peduncle. Their 



nests are formed of several layers of combs, 



all of which are covered with a waterproof 



covering of paper, made from weatherworn 



wood of stumps, trees, fences, and buildings. 



The nests are gradually enlarged, new combs 



being added and the 



outer envelope being 



enlarged to cover 



them. The males and 



workers die in the fall, 



and the females hiber- 

 nate over winter and 



start a new colony in 



the spring. 



3. BEES (APINA] 



Most Of OUr COm- FIG. 424. a, mouth-parts of a short-tongued bee 



mon bees are readily (Prosopis ptibescens] (note short, broad, flaplike 



i- ,. i j i tongue, or glossa) ; b, mouth-parts of a long-tongued 



distinguished as Such be / (Ant ophor ] a pilipes} (n P ote greatly Extended 



by the general shape tongue). (Much enlarged) 



and hairy clothing Of (After Sharp, from Kellogg) 



