188 WASPS. 



way at once, and the convenience of people who may possess bee- 

 dresses, and will lend their services, are not at hand. 



If, as may very likely be the case, the disestablished Wasps start a 

 new house, as near as possible to the site of the former one, this will 

 require destroying. In the course of experimental observation, I have 

 known the Wasps of a removed nest rebuild from the very beginning 

 four times, but never more than this, and these re-establishments are 

 not of the importance of the original home.* 



For catching Wasps, no plan seems to succeed better than hanging 

 bottles (as noted by observers) partly filled with a mixture of beer and 

 sugar. But where there are long ranges of Peach walls, or walls with 

 fruit such as the Wasps delight in, I have seen glass-traps also answer 

 very well indeed. These were made by taking a common square hand- 

 glass with a pointed top, and a finger-hole just at the highest part. 

 This glass was set on four bricks, one beneath each corner, so as to 

 raise the glass by the depth of the brick from the ground, not by the 

 width, which would allow too much space. On this lowest glass 

 another is placed, taking care that any opening round the edge, where 

 the upper glass rests on the lower one, is well closed with moss, and 

 the finger-hole at the top of the upper one (?!of of the lower one) also 

 carefully closed. 



All that is further needed is to throw some fruit, such as the Wasps 

 like, beneath the trap. The Wasps will go to it readily through the 

 opening between the glass and the ground, but coming away is a very 

 different matter. Then they usually fly upwards, and, passing through 

 the open finger-hole into the upper glass, they are trapped, and perish. 

 I have seen a deep layer of flies and Wasps thus trapped, to the great 

 saving of the fruit on the adjacent trees. 



For prevention of entry of Wasps into vineries, though the necessity 

 of the matter is alluded to in the foregoing observations, no precise 

 details have been given, I have known it answer quite well to fasten 

 muslin, such as old window-curtains, to the edges of the lights and the 

 framework to which they fitted when the lights were closed. If this 



* No observations have been sent in on one point which touches us all very 

 nearly, — how best to lessen pain and injury from stings; therefore the following 

 extract from the work of my brother, Dr Ormerod, on Wasps, may be of interest : — 

 " Ammonia or soda will sometimes relieve the pain, and chloroform more certainly 

 and speedily should it be at hand. Ipecacuanha is a favourite Indian remedy. But 

 the best way is gently to withdraw the sting, and suck the wound if we can get at 

 it, and then to leave it alone. Some persons swell very much after a sting, and for 

 these rest, and a good dose of purgative medicine, are the best remedies." Some 

 few words are added on the importance of leaving the wound itself alone, that is, 

 not teasing or squeezing the part. See 'British Social Wasps,' by Edwj L. 

 Ormerod, M.D., p. 14. 



