118 WASPS. 



but to a large extent prepared iu the iuside of the workers before 

 restormg it for the nourishment of the grubs, almost anything sweet or 

 nutritious, and soft enough for abstraction, may be considered as ser- 

 viceable. Animal food, as meat, fish, insects, in winged or maggot 

 state, all are acceptable for the family larder ; honey is a great 

 attraction ; jam, sugar, fruit, to any amount, are also all acceptable, 

 in fact it is difficult to say what may not be laid under contribution for 

 carriage home to feed the grubs, in prepared or unprepared condition. 

 But irrespective of this point of what they may select to supply what, 

 when under observation, appear the insatiable appetites of the larvae, 

 the workers on their own account (apparently) are greatly attracted by, 

 and stand in need of, moisture. Here we have a point on which we 

 may constantly base most successful measures for trapping and 

 destroying them by myriads, and with regard to their wholesale depre- 

 dations, and the dexterity and apparent powers of memory with which 

 they carry on their minor thieveries, notes will be found in the 

 succeeding observations.* 



These in many cases contain reports of amount of presence, extent 

 of damage caused, measures of prevention and remedy, besides other 

 details of interest ; but as in Wasp attack these are much affected by 

 local circumstances, I have not divided the information for classing 

 under different headings, but given each report entire, with, in some 

 instances, a heading noting the chief point alluded, and have appended 

 a general summary of the results to be gathered from the notes. 



I have also added two or three short observations of amount of 

 Wasp presence at a few Continental localities, for which I am indebted 

 to the courtesy of entomological correspondents, duly acknowledged 

 together with their kind contributions. 



* In my account of the general points of Wasp life and habits, I have written 

 mainly from my own observations, taken some years ago, when collecting and 

 observing to help my late brother. Dr. Edward L. Ormerod, whilst preparing his 

 volume entitled ' Social Wasps,' regarding such points as required local attention 

 in their own habitats ; and also whilst collecting and preparing specimens of Wasps' 

 nests for museum use at the South Kensington collection, then at Bethual Green, 

 under the curatorship of the late Andrew Murray, F.L.S. Under the circumstances, 

 I was able to make a large amount of observations as to ordinary Wasp habits, and 

 also experimentally, on such matters as applied to instincts under special emer- 

 gences (arranged for them), rebuilding of abstracted nests, memory in regaining 

 former localities, and also with regard to food. These, however, are unnecessary to 

 be entered on here, but amongst the great number of publications on Wasp life, I 

 may mention as a trustworthy work for consultation as to the number and distinc- 

 tion of our British species, the ' Brit. Museum Catalogue of British Aculeate 

 Hymenoptera,' by the late Fred. Smith. Also that in Dr. Ormerod's work on ' Social 

 Wasps,' a great amount of information is given from his personal researches 

 regarding their external structure, and the internal development, both in larval and 

 imago condition. — Ed. 



