April, 1887.] history society of Wisconsin. 
91 
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE SPECIAL SENSES OF WASPS. 
BY G. W. AND E. G. PECKHAM. 
■ GENERAL HABITS. 
Our knowledge of the habits of ground-wasps dates only from 
the latter part of July. To render our account more complete 
we transcribe from others the history of a nest from its beginning 
in the spring up to the time when our observations commenced. 
It is generally supposed that before spring comes all the 
wasps die except a few fertilized queens, and that these, when 
the first warm day 3 arrive, go out to search for suitable places 
for their nests. Very commonly a deserted hole in the giound 
is selected, but it is said that if the queen can find no hole leady 
made she will dig one for herself. Having put her future home 
in good order she forms, from the fibers of weather-worn wood, 
which she cuts oflf and chews up, a sort of glutinous substance, 
ductile and easily moulded into any shape. Of this matter she 
forms an overhanging roof attached to the ceiling of her excava 
ted nest by means of one or several columns of the same ma 
terial; in like manner she constructs several hexagonal cells on 
the under sideof the roof, in each of which she deposits a single egg. 
In the course of a few days these eggs develop into worms which, 
after being carefully fed for some time by the queen-mother, un 
dergo a metamorphosis after which each worm is known as a chrys¬ 
alis. The chrysalis refuses all food and soon closes the open end o 
its cell, which is turned downward, with a fine white silken cover 
which it spins itself. In from eight to ten days the perfect wasp 
is formed and, gnawing away the silken cover, it emerges from 
its cell ready to assume its share of responsibility in carrj ing on 
the work of the nest. These first wasps are always neuters, an 
hereafter all the duties which the queen has been obliged to per- 
foriu, with the single exception of egg-laying, fall upon them 
Another layer or story of comb is formed, and as soon as t 
workers are ready with the cells the queen deposits her eggs m 
them as before. The history of the second set of wasps is mere y 
