WASPS 



205 



body between the last pair of legs and the abdomen, the 

 antennae also are held down under the first pair of legs, and 

 all the legs themselves are folded close up to the body, the 

 mandibles alone serving to support the body by a firm grasp 

 upon some shreds of suitable material. The attitude, excepting 

 that of the mandibles, is precisely the same as that occupied 

 during a previous period of quiescence, namely, when a pupa 

 (chrysalis) enclosed in a cell of the comb. During hibernation 

 " queens " can with impunity withstand more than 20 degrees F. 

 of frost. 



Warm days in early spring arouse the sleeping " queens " 

 to activity. In April and May these insects may be seen flying 

 along hedge banks and walls 

 in search of suitable building 

 sites, such as an old mouse- 

 hole or crevice between two 

 stones. The position of the 

 selected spot is carefully noted 

 and surveyed, and the work 

 of founding a new colony then 

 begun. By means of the man- 

 dibles and feet, soil is removed 

 and carried pellet by pellet 

 outside the entrance until a 

 small chamber is excavated. A 

 journey is then made to some 

 neighbouring fence or gate- 

 post, from Whose weathered FlGg 7 6._ Diagmm of wasps' nest at an early 



surface woody fibre is scraped 

 by the mandibles and carried 

 home, there to be worked up 

 into " wasp-paper " and applied to some convenient rootlet in the 

 roof of the chamber. Time after time is this process repeated, 

 until a small platform of " paper " has been constructed. From 

 the centre of this a vertical pillar of the same material is carried 

 downwards ; at the lower extremity of this first four, but 

 eventually some thirty hexagonal cells, all opening downwards, 

 are built, forming the first, roughly circular disc or " comb." 



stage. C, comb made by queen ; E, 

 entrance ; R, root to which nest is sus- 

 pended ; i, 2, 3, 4, first to fourth wrappings. 



