I70 FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



stroying unsuspected numbers of eggs, larvae, and later 

 stages of plant-feeding insects. 



The Social Wasps (Vespidae) are well-known predaceous 

 insects. The adults build paper nests in which the young 

 are reared, being fed largely with various insects that the 

 worker wasps catch for them. These workers also feed 



freely upon such insects, though 

 they also eat the nectar of 

 flowers and other kinds of food. 

 The various groups of Soli- 

 tary Wasps must also be classed 

 with the predaceous insects, 

 though their pecuUar habits 

 WHITE-FACED HoKNET ^"y ^^601 in a Way with the true 



parasites. The Mud Wasps 

 and the Digger Wasps provision their cells and burrows with 

 flies, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, and other crea- 

 tures. These victims are paralyzed by the sting of the wasp 

 so that they lie helpless in the cell in which the wasp egg 

 is laid. This egg soon hatches into a larva that feeds upon 

 the paralyzed prey, finally transforming to a pupa and later 

 to an adult wasp. 



Other Orders 



Comparatively few important predaceous families are 

 found in the other orders of insects. Some of these, how- 

 ever, are friendly insects of great value, serving a notable 

 purpose in the economy of nature. 



What the swallows are among the birds, the Dragon Flies 

 are among the insects. These powerful creatures are won- 

 derfully adapted to their life work. With enormous eyes 

 that see in practically all directions, with powerful wings 

 that carry them with lightning rapidity through the air, with 



