128 ZOOLOGY. 



from several species of bee, or else form it in their 

 stomachs from sugary materials drawn from sweet 

 fruits. 



Wasps are harmful or troublesome in three ways : 

 (1) by gnawing the bark of trees ; (2) by feeding on 

 sweet fruits; (3) by the painful stings which they 

 inflict. These are most dangerous in hot summer 

 days. If a nest situated in the soil is destroyed 

 during ploughing the alarmed insects attack both 

 men and horses, cases being known where their stings 

 have proved fatal. The pain is chiefly caused by the 

 poison introduced into the wound. On this account 

 if the sting remains sticking in the skin it must not 

 be drawn out simply with the fingers, but carefully, 

 by means of the nails, lest the poison-bag is pressed 

 and thus stUl more poison brought into the wound. 

 Bemedies: Cooling substances, e.g. ground carrots, 

 apples or pears, cabbage leaves, damp sand. Rubbing 

 in ammonia. If there is acute inflammation, a com- 

 press with sugar of lead. 



Family : Fossores {Digging Wasps). 



Several species of this group resemble the wasps in 

 their habits, as well as through their black and 

 yellow-tinged abdomens; but they are always dis- 

 tinguished from these by their fore wings, which are 

 not folded together in a state of rest, and by their 

 eyes, which are not kidney-shaped. The shanks and 

 feet possess thorns serviceable for digging. The sting 

 of the female has no barbs, so that it is not torn off 

 and left behind in the wound. The digging wasps 

 are not social. They are lively and active ; in summer 

 the female often flies busily about near the ground in 

 order to find a place for bringing up her young. She 

 digs a hole in the earth in which she lays an egg. 

 Then she buries an insect to serve as food for the 

 young when hatched. Lest the insect to be buried 



