4482 Entomological Society. 



Acarus on Hay. 

 Mr. Westwood then read the following letter: — 



11 Villiarstown, Cappoquin. 

 M Sir, 



" Enclosed are some insects taken from the base of a newly made rick : they 

 lie in a band of about 4 inches thick by 9 inches wide. The hay was off a reclaimed 

 bog, after oats. There is also another rick close by, which is affected the same way. 

 When first they appeared they were removed at once, but in one or two days after the 

 rick was as bad as ever. I shall feel much obliged if you will let me know what they 

 are, what should be done to the hay to get rid of them, and also whether it is bad for 

 horses to be fed on such hay. 



" I am, Sir, yours truly, 



" A. E. Nichol." 



Mr. Westwood exhibited a drawing of this Acarus, observing it was very similar 

 to the common cheese-mite. 



Habitat of Chelifer. 



Mr. Westwood exhibited specimens of Chelifer, which had been found in great 

 numbers in melon-frames and similar situations. Messrs. Walker and Curtis had 

 likewise observed them frequently in such places, and the latter thought they fed upon 

 minute insects. 



Materials of Wasps' Nests. 



The Secretary read the following letter from Mr. W. H. Watkeys, relative to 

 wasps' nests, and specimens of the material alluded to were exhibited. 



" Stroud, July 27. 

 " Sir, 



" Seeing, in the report given in the ' Gardener's Chronicle ' of your meeting, 

 that a discussion arose as to whether wasps use the scrapings of solid wood in the con- 

 struction of their nests, allow me to give an account of a little personal observation on 

 the subject. I have several times observed wasps on and near beds of the dried stalks 

 of stinging-nettles and similar substances, but till last Saturday I had not proof that 

 they were used in the construction of their nests : I was passing near a hedge in which 

 were numbers of these stalks, and about ten or a dozen wasps were hard at work 

 biting oft" nearly all the outside of the dried nettles, and, the nest being near, I 

 watched their coming to and fro, which I think was evident proof of the fact main- 

 tained by your Society. 



" I am, Sir, yours &c, 



" W. H. Watkeys." 



Mr. F. Smith observed that wasps sometimes do use solid wood in the construction 

 of their nests, for he once had a nest of Vespa Norvegica for some months in his room, 

 the wasps going constantly to and fro, during which period he noticed them frequently 

 scraping and gnawing the outsides of his store-boxes, which are of deal, for building 

 material. His room being a very dry one, he is confident it was the wood they used 

 and not fungus, which could not have been found in such a place under such circum- 

 stances. 



