157 
on 
which had a nest on a vine-laden post near a bed of carrots did 
much to rid these vegetables of semi-loopers. 
The egg is 4 mm. long and 1.20 mm. thick, and has, in addition, 
a suspensory thread 1.25 mm. long. It is but slightly curved and 
with both ends practically alike. In one case the incubation period 
was nearly six days. It hatches into a well-segmented little larva, 
which feeds in a suspended 
position from the tough 
egg-shell, and a day later 
it hangs down from the 
shrivelled moult skin (Fig. 
87), which remains attach- 
ed to the shell. Later on. 
however, it becomes large 
and strong enough to de- 
scend among its provender 
and consumes it. 
Stilbum cyanurum For- 
ster, the big Cuckoo-wasp, 
is an enemy of Eumenes, 
and in one cell I found a 

; V7 a ay md A iy ON o iy : i 
Fig. i. Portion of roof of cell of Bu partly consumed Eumenes 
menes fulvipennis, from which egg- z 
shell is hanging by filament; thence PUPa and what I took to be 
hangs the first moult skin of the larva, the Stilbum grub. 
and finally the larva itself, « 2. The Eumenes larva, as in 
its black relative, spins a 
tough cocoon, leaving, however, all debris between it and the 
cell wall. 
I sometimes came across single little jug cells, suspended from 
some very fine rootlet or from horsehair fungi—evidently a pre- 
caution against ants. These cells were neat and retained their 
jug-like opening, but I did not note the eumenid architect in this 
case. 
Zethus (Calligaster) cyanopterus Saussure. 
Length 26-30 mm.; shining black; wings iridescent purple; 
petiole striate, depressed. 
In architectural ability and motherly care, Zethus (Fig. 88) has 
few rivals among wasps. We cannot class her with those that 
make nests in haste, stock them and leave the results to fate; 
she is a prudent mother who cares for her offspring by day and 
by night. 
