Insects. 3699 



Observations on the Economy of Vespa Norwegica and V. rufa. 

 By Frederick Smith, Esq., Assistant in the Zoological De* 

 partment, British Museum. 



One of the principal entomological objects which I had in view 

 during a recent excursion in Yorkshire, was to obtain nests of the tree 

 wasp (Vespa Norwegica), and I was fortunately successful in meeting 

 with one, attached to a gooseberry-bush : this, as well as a nest of V. 

 rufa, I brought to London, and established both colonies in my private 

 sitting-room, thus gaining an opportunity of observing several particu- 

 lars connected with their economy, which I now purpose to give in 

 detail. 



In order to make observations on these insects, it is necessary to 

 establish a working community; and as at first sight this might appear 

 to be attended with some difficulty and danger, I may as well relate 

 by what means I obtained possession of my nests, as well as their in- 

 habitants. Meeting with a nest of Vespa rufa in a bank, I determined 

 to obtain possession of it for observation. The communities of this 

 species are not so numerous as those of V. vulgaris. As nearly as I 

 could ascertain, the nest referred to had about 150 inhabitants, con- 

 sisting of one female and about half a dozen recently developed males, 

 the rest being working wasps. The first thing to be done in taking a 

 nest, is to strike terror into the whole community ; this is effected by 

 placing a bag-net over the entrauce, and then beating the ground until 

 the whole population is in disordered commotion. A large number 

 will rush into the net, and these, by swinging it round several times, 

 may all be secured at the bottom : you may then dig with little dan- 

 ger; the wasps crawling about panic-struck. Ou digging out the 

 nest, it must be placed in the upper part of the net, and left exposed 

 for a short time, until the stragglers are assembled, when the net must 

 be closed. I obtained my nest without any attempt on the part of the 

 wasps to sting, and deposited the community safely in a small deal 

 box. The nest of V. Norwegica was very easily taken at night, by 

 inclosing it in a bag and cutting off the branch. 



On arriving at home, I made an opening in the box, so as to allow 

 of egress and ingress, and placed it at an open window ; I also sup- 

 plied the wasps with sugar and water, upon which they regaled them- 

 selves with much apparent enjoyment. The nest of V. rufa contained 

 only four combs : the upper comb consisted entirely of worker-cells ; 

 its length was 4 inches and its breadth 2 : the second was a little 



