Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-01-01
Wasps.

a tropical wasp differs very greatly
from the kind we are accustomed to see
in this country. 1t is double the size,
though with the same tapering shape, and
most handmOsely marked in black and
yellow rings. They are very common IN
Africa, and much feared by the natives,
who dread the great pain and swelling
which follow a sting. They are fond of
hanging their combs on small trees and
bushes, and IN clearing jungle the men
often get stung. Two or three are sufh
cient to cause temporary fever, and they
always pick out a most tender spot, such
as the ear, eyelid, or tip of the nose. l
was on one occasion much interested IN
the movements of a lady wasp building
her nest. She commenced on hot sum-
mer's day in February, by coming into
the room where | was reading, and buZ-
zing round all the corners until she had
selected one. Then she went out and re-
turned with little lump of clay as big as
pea, which she stuck against the wall
with her two front legs, humming all the
time. When that was done, she fetched
another, adding piece to piece, until by
night she had completed hollow cell as
big as a pencil and about an inch long.
One end was closed, the other open.
Next morning [ found her hard at work
again, carrying something which [ after
ward found were spiders, and placing
them inside the cell until it was full, then
she closed it up, and set about construct
ing another on the top of the
first. This process went on for a
week, when she had made seven
cells, one above the other, completing
one every day. She did not work any
more, though continually flying in and
out and buzzing round the nest, until one
day, soon afterward, it fell down during
a gale of wind. Luckily it lighted on the
sofa, and was not smashed. | was very
curious to find out what she had been
putting inside, and proceeded to open
each cell with my penknife. The clay
had become dry and hard, and it was not
easy to do; but with care | got the CON
tents out unframed. No. 1 had a parti
ton in the center, making two chambers.
Each contained a small grub, with
white transparent skin, about half an inch
long, and the size of crow-quill. In the
first were two spiders, and in the other
one partially eaten. There is no doubt
they were placed there as food for the
young wasps, for, on my putting the
already eaten one close to their mouths,
they both lay hold of it with a sucking
motion. No. 2 cell contained the young
In different stage. It had slightly
shriveled up, and was yellower than the
others. 1t also had brownish outer skin
like that of a chrysalis, bound round with
a few silky webs resembling those of
cocoon. There were two spiders with it.
No. was filled with twenty spiders, on
one ofwhich [ found a tiny oblong trans
parent eye, or more probably grub,
though [ could not make out the mouth,
and all the others we've the same, only
differing in the size of the grub, and the
number of the spiders-the former in
creasing as the latter lessened.
What puzzles me is how they get out
when arrived at maturity, as their prison
is formed of such hard material. l can
understand how, from being almost mi
crOsc0pic, they become large grubs after
eating twenty spiders, how they then be-
come chrysalis, and lastly ull-grown
wasp, but not how they break the strong
clay walls and get into the open air.
Most Of the spiders were of the common
home sort, all but three, and those / had
never seen before. One was a delicate
green, and [ think the wasp must have
sharp eyes to distinguish it from the
grass. A jet-black one, with yellow feel
ers, was very like beetle in shape, and
the third had a green front and yellow
afterpart, with red stripe running along
the back Altogether I found it very in
teresting. Since that I once lived in
room that was not papered, but merely
painted over the plaster; and the wasps
came in in dozens. Two built nests like
the one | have described, the others mere
ly bored round holes in the walls, in the
hard plaster, nearly, if not quite, an inch
deep. [ never could quite clearly make
out what they did it for, but I believe
they were carrying the clay Of which the
plaster was made to make nests with in
other places. Afterward, in a sugar mill,
/ saw the walls similarly pierced.
Talking of wasps, brings up the sub
ject Of honey. I believe it is not general
ly known that in the interior of Africa
there is a small fly that makes honey in
large quantities, as good, if not better,
than that of the bee. [ have often eaten
it while shooting. This little fly bores a
minute hole in the earth eighteen to twen-
ty-four inches deep, which it lines with
clay. 1t then forms a round lump as
large as turnip, the shell being of hard
earth or clay bound together with some
sticky substance, and the inside pure
honey. 1t is very LIQUID, and has a slight
ly acid taste, and, though rather difficult
TO eat without getting any earth in ones
mouth, is capital, and well worth the
trouble Of digging up. The place is found,
like a bees nest, by seeing the fly alight
and 60 down the mouth of the little hole,
and 1t is curious that the honey bird never
leads one to it.
The way this little bird, which some
what resembles our water wagtail, follows
and persecutes any human being it may
see until it gets them to follow is one of
the most curious things in natural his
tory. 1t makes sharp chitter, fitting in
front from tree to tree, coming back ev
cry now and then to see that you are
going in the right direction until you get
into the neighborhood Of the nest, when,
after telling you, by slight change in
its demeanor, that you are close to the
spot it flies off to neighboring tree, and
watches your operations. Failing a bees
nest, it may take you to anything unusual
it may sea large snake, a tiger, or even
a human being. Game in much-hunted
districts learn to connect the chitter of
this bird with the presence of man, and
keep sharp lookout when they hear it.
Land and Water.