American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-11
A Sand-wasp at Work.

| SOME species of the family of wasps
have the habit of digging cylindrical
holes in the ground, in which they bury
some insect, sometimes spider, some
times grasshopper, and sometimes some
other variety of insect. A wasp which
we recently watched had dug slanting
hole about an inch deep. The process of
| digging was as follows:
Using its head as pickax, it loosened
the earth, and, after detaching sufficient
quantity, it took the lOOsened earth up in
its fore-legs, which were used as arms,
| backed swiftly out of the hole, dropped
| it, and went directly back.
This it continued to do until the pile at
the mouth of the hole became SO large as
to be troublesome; it then threw the
earth back, digging as a dog digs, with
its legs, throwing the earth back be-
tween the others.
After leveling the pile it dug as before
until another pile had accumulated.
By this process it proceeded quite
rapidly, digging its length in short
time.
1t worked for some time in this way,
then flew away four or five yards from its
hole, seized a large grasshopper which it
had previously prepared, ami began to
drag it toward the hole.
With its mouth it took the grasshopper
by the antenne, or feelers, as they are
commonly called, and walked off, drag
ging the insect after it. Their heads
were pointed in the same direction, the
wasp's legs being over the grasshopper's
back.
Although encountered by such a load
the wasp walked without much difficulty,
making good time, in the direction of its
hole, and not stopping until within foot
or two of its destination.
The grasshopper had been stung nearly
to death, but there was some life remain
ing; not enough, however, to allow it to
escape.
After leaving the grasshopper the wasp
commenced digging again in the same
manner as before. 1t worked for some
time, then drew the insect to within an
inch or two of the hole, and after this
dug a little more. This it continued to
do until the hole had been made OF
sufficient size. As soon as this was the
case it drew the grasshopper the remain
ing distance to its burial place, leaving it
then, taking it by the antenng, the wasp
tried to back into the burrow, pulling its
victim headtoremost after it.
1t is worthy of notice that all the time
before the heads of the two insects were
in the same direction, the wasp being
over the back of the grasshopper; but
when directly in front of the hole it took
the insect Dy tne uNLehU0 anu pullcu IL III,
the wasp going backward. In this way
both could enter at the same time, as they
could not the other way.
At the first trial the efforts of the wasp
failed; for this reason it dragged the
to one side and began to en-
large the hole 1t then made another
trial, dragging the insect so that its headk
pointed down the hole. This time it was
successful.
AS soon as the grasshopper was safely
deposited at the bottom of the hole the
wasp came out and began to throw In the
sand which had accumulated. 1t would
throw in little with its fore-legs, and
then go in and smooth over with its head
what had been thrown in. 1t continued
20 work in this manner until the hole was
FULL 1t seemed careful not to get in any
little sticks or stones; if any were thrown
N it would bring them out.
The whole process before described
vas completed in about half an hour, the
wasp all the time working very indus
The object of its work was to provide
God for its offspring; these are grubs,
which, when Matched, are not able to pro-
ride for themselves.
The wasp deposits its eggs in the hole
With some insect which it burles In the
manner described, and when the larv@
,atch out they have food provided for
hem.
II buries the insect alive to prevent de-
before the eggs are Matched.
YOUTHS Companion.