40 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



about the lake, gall-wasps are abundant and represented by various 

 species. 



Of the Braconids, Microgaster is common, and the parasitized 

 caterpillars that have fallen a prey to it have been frequently found 

 about the lake. 



Ants are not so common as to be a nuisance. There are, how- 

 ever, a few large dome-shaped ant hills along the border of the wet 

 ground near Lost Lake and along its outlet down by Walley's 

 woods. 



The solitary wasps are represented by the potter- wasp, Eumenes 

 fraterna, which builds its exquisite little clay vases on slender 

 twigs down at the edges of the woods toward the south end of th'e 

 lake. 



Wasps and Yellowjackets are occasionally seen. Hornet's nests 

 were rather rare. On November 2, 1902 a big hornet's nest was 

 seen in a white oak in Walley's woods 30 feet up. It had been shot 

 into. Another very large nest was found October 24, 1907 beside a 

 lane west of the ice-houses near the tamarack swamp. It was built 

 on some wild-cherry sprouts, the nest almost or quite touching the 

 ground. Some one had torn away a part of one side. Tearing the 

 nest open it was found that many of the grubs were just emerging 

 and crawling about. A photo was taken of the nest. Dr. L. O. 

 Howard says that this hatching in the fall is very unusual. 



There is a current popular belief that if hornets build their 

 nests high in the trees it is a sign of an open winter,, while if they 

 are built close to the ground the winter will be severe. 



On October 11, 1913, a fine large nest was seen in a tulip tree 

 in Overmeyer's woods, south of Farrar's. It was on the end of a 

 limb about 20 feet from the ground. 



Our notes have occasional references to both bumblebees and 

 honey bees. There is little bee-keeping about the lake (we saw a 

 few hives on the east side) though the country with its moist low- 

 lands covered with blossoms from early spring to late autumn 

 would furnish excellent opportunities. 



