CHAPTEE XXV 



INSECTA (continued) 

 Order VII. : Hymenoptera (continued) 



Family 2. Social Wasps (Fespidae). 



These Hymenoptera are all characterised by the longitudinal 

 folding over of each of the first pair of wings when at rest, 

 so that they look only half their natural width. The wings 

 are gauzy and transparent. The first segment of the thorax 

 is peculiar and characteristic in shape. It is very narrow, and 

 curves back on each side round the second segment, resting 

 finally on a little scale at the base of the 

 wings, known as the " tegula." 



Three castes of individuals, males, 

 females, and workers, are to be found 

 among social wasps as among social bees. 



The Common Wasp (Vespa vulgaris). 



Wasps are very well-known insects, for 

 their yellow, black - barred, thin-waisted 



bodies and fierce buzz make them very wa;p!°DOTfal~ 



conspicuous as they fly about, stealing what „ , , , 



„ ■, , p ill T "■' Folded upper wing ; 



food they can get from our tables, and (,, margin of lower 

 fiercely stinging when interfered with, wing projecting from 

 However, they are often unduly maligned, ""^"^ '^^ "pp*^"^ 

 for, contrary to the general opinion, they 

 never sting unless worried, and if only we could control our 

 hasty movements of fright when they fly near us, we should 

 be rarely stung, and could with impunity come to such close 

 quarters with them that we might learn, as did Mr. G. Peckham 



