1 86 



FIRST LHSSONS IN ZOOLOGY 



most cases, closes the liole, and takes no further interest 

 in it, goiny on to make new nests from da\' to da_\'. In 

 some genera the female maintains a longer connection 

 with her offspring, not bringing all the provisions at once 

 but returning to feed the larva as it grows, and only 

 leaving the nest permanently when the grub has spun its 

 cocoon and becomes a pupa. 



" The egg de\elops in from one to three days into a 

 footless maggot-like creature, which feeds upon the store 



Fig. 143. — N'st-liLirrow- of ,-iw;.'/('////7(7 with food for the young (paralyzed 

 inch-^v^lrnl^) in Imttoin, and lourrow nearly filled. (From nature.) 



Fu:. 144. — Ainmopliihi liriiiging covering bit of salt incrustation to put over 

 stored and filled nestd)urrow. (Natural size; from life.) 



provided for it, increasing rapidly in size, and entering 

 the pupal stage in from three days to two weeks. In tlie 

 cocoon it passes through its final metamorphosis, emerg- 

 ing as a perfect insect, perhaps in two or three A\'eeks, 

 or, in many cases, after the winter months have passed 

 and summer lias come again. I'robably no solitary wasp 

 lives through the winter, those that come out in the spring 

 or summer perishing in the autumn." 



The nest-making habits of an)- solitar\' wasp when 



