130 WASPS. 



latter are decaying and falling from being pierced by the insects." . . 

 . . " Since the Blackberry crop has ripened, I think the damage in 

 orchards has somewhat decreased." — (C. R.) 



Lowfield Nm-series, Crawley, Sussex. The following notes, contri- 

 buted by Mr. J. Cheal, from the above address, give details of the 

 severe damage caused by Wasps to fruit, as well as some observations 

 as to their method of carrying on the ravages, and also (as in the two 

 preceding reports) inconvenience from attack out of ploughed-up nests, 

 and to men working on Aphis infested plants from Wasps attracted by 

 them. Mr. Cheal noted : — " In the first place as to damage done by 

 Wasps, we have had unusual opportunities of observing their habits 

 this season, as we never before knew them so numerous. 



" We have destroyed within the nursery over two hundred nests. 

 There is no denying but that they have done a large amount of damage 

 to the fruit, and we have now lying upon the ground underneath some 

 of the Apple trees, large quantities of Apple skins, which have been 

 completely hollowed out by the AVasps, scores of bushels having been 

 destroyed. We have observed them very closely, but we have come to 

 the conclusion that in no case could we positively say that the Wasps 

 commenced the fruit unless the rind had been punctured in some way 

 before. 



•' We have here a large number of birds, and the Wasps generally 

 attack an Apple that has been previously pecked by them. This year 

 we have also noticed that the Apples have been attacked by a large 

 number of small birds, such as tits, and this has given the Wasps a 

 greater opportunity of penetrating the fruit, but they have been by no 

 means slow in taking advantage of previous depredations. They also 

 appear to have a decided preference for certain varieties of Apples, and 

 we were somewhat struck this year with the way in which, for a few 

 days, they would swarm upon one variety, and then suddenly leave 

 this for some other variety, which appeared to be more to their taste ; 

 so much for Apples. 



"As to Plums they did a considerable amount of damage to these, 

 and there is no doubt that they punctured these without assistance from 

 birds, &c. We had, in consequence, to gather many of our Plums 

 before they were fully ripe. Grapes they have also very much 

 damaged, and it has been needful to cover all openings in the houses 

 with fine net, in order to exclude them. 



"We think we should, in fairness to the Wasps, mention one 

 instance in which we think their presence has been beneficial. The 

 fruit stocks, especially Apples, have been very heavily attacked by 

 Green Fly, and the growth of the plants being somewhat slow owing 

 to the drought, these Aphides have also severely checked their growth, 

 and we noticed during the prevalence of the Wasps, that they swarme^ 



