1924 ] 
Attacks of Vespa comynunis De Saussure 
139 
The wasps were not seen to attack insects prior to the 
attacks reported here, although individual workers were ob- 
served from time to time in the vicinity throughout the summer. 
But very likely they were at those times merely seeking food of 
vegetable character. The fondness of adult wasps for this type 
of food is well known of course, and their indifference to animal 
food at times of the abundance of the former has been noted. 
The behavior of the wasps — aside from their apparent 
failure to carr}^ off or to malaxate the caterpillars — may 
probably be explained on the ground of a shortage or dearth of 
food — both plant and animal — because of the lateness and dry- 
ness of the season; the summer of 1923 was exceedingly dry in 
New Jersey. The suggestion (which has been made) that the 
wasps’ ferocity and rapid consumption of the liquid portions of 
the caterpillars were perhaps due to a desire for water — the 
fondness or need of wasps for water is also well known — is hardly 
satisfactory. First, there was available the water from the heavy 
dews; secondly, the wasps continued to seek the caterpillars in 
the rearing trays in the shelter, although in smaller numbers, 
during a two-day rain-storm. It was hunger, eivdently, rather 
than thirst which influenced the wasps. 
The exact location of the wasp nest was not discovered. 
