THE MUD WASP. 71 



where water has been spilled, converting the dust into 

 mud. The peculiarities in the flight and walk of the wasp 

 may be studied in such places ; and specimens for study 

 may easily be taken with net and cyanide bottle. 



Study the external anatomy of the adult, noting the 

 development of all the parts, and especially of the mouth 

 parts and the first three abdominal segments. 



Study of a Live Specimen. Go into loft or attic, or other 

 place where these insects are building their nests of mud, 

 and watch them at work. They will not sting unless 

 much molested, and they seem to have little objection to 

 being watched. Find one that is bringing in a ball of 

 mud, and follow it to its nest. Observe : 



1. How the ball of mud is carried. 



2. How it is deposited and worked into place. 



3. The peculiar sound the wasp makes while at work, 

 and how this sound is made. 



4. The position and attachment of the nest. 



5. The arrangement of its cells. 



The nest may easily be removed, when the old wasp is 

 absent, by pushing a knife blade under it. Study the 

 development of the insect as shown in the contents of the 

 nest. Examine the contents of all the cells. Their walls 

 may easily be cut away with a knife. Find : 



1. A cell or cells unfinished, and containing at the bot- 

 tom a single egg. 



2. Cells uncapped, and partly filled with little spiders 

 or other insects. These are for the food of the larva that 

 will hatch from the egg in the bottom of each cell. Note 

 the condition of the spiders, not dead, but paralyzed. 

 A number of days elapse after they are put into the cell 

 before the larva is ready to eat them, and they would de- 

 compose if killed outright. The mother wasp stings them 

 in such a manner, that they are only paralyzed, and remain 



