The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-09-16
Strategic Wasp.

Not long since, while reading beneath
the shade of fig. tree, our attention was
attracted by peculiar, loud and shrill
buzzing sound, a. of some one of the bee
family in distress. Looking in the direc-
ton of the noise we observed quite close
to us dirt-dauber, or builder, one Of tho
species OF wasps so we'll known for the
cylindrical cases of mud it builds under
caves and on sheltered walls, which it
stuttS full of certain worms and spiders
for its young. This wasp had half of its
body and head down the hole of the
equally well-known doodlebug, worm
which children pull out of their holes by
teasing them with straw until they grasp
1t with their strong nippers and hold On
until they are thrown out. 1t was evident
at glance that the wasp had gone down
the hole Of the doodlebug, aud that the
doodlebug soon had him in his strong
grip At great disadvantage, and where
the wings Of the wasp were of no advan.
tage to him except to make noise which
might alarm his adversary. The contest
lasted full two minutes, when finally the
dirt-dauber came out with a jerk. He
flew but few inches from the hole, lit
upon the ground, rubbed his head and
fairly danced with pain.
In q few moments he recovered from
the effects of his wounds and began MAX
ing short circles over the hole, evidently
accommodating and laying his plans.
Presently, lighting at the mouth Of the
hole, he tried the earth all about the en-.
trance with the skill Of an engineer, and
selecting that which was driest he began
to scratch like dog with his fore feet,
throwing the dust rapidly backward into
the hole. We watched with intense in.
terest and could not but admire his pluck
and determination, for we imagined this
throwing of dust on his adversary:s head
was only to provoke him to fresh fight.
Every now and then he would step and
take cautious peep down the hole 10 OBJ
serve the effect of his operations. We
expected every moment to see him descend
and make another attack, but it soon be-
came manifest that such was not his in
tention, and it gradually dawned upon US
that he had a strategic mode of attack
based upon the soundest principles of
philosophy, reason and thorough knowl.
edge OF his adversary and of the means
he was using to render his resistance futile
and make him An easy captive.
BY throwing fine dust into the hole the
doodlebug would soon be smothered, as it
was necessary that he should have free
air, unless he climbed upward, as he
would do. Whenever the worm worked
upward to get his head above, the fine
dust fell behind and below him, and thus
slowly closed up the hole, until, blinded
with dust, he poked his head out at the
top. This was the point aimed at, and
the moment he showed his head above
the wasp pounced upon him, seized him
by the neck, drew him up, gathered him
in his arms and flew off in triumph,
though the worm was much the larger Of
the two. Struck with amazement at the
sagacity, science, skill and engineering
ability of the dirt-dauber, we carefully
sounded the hole and found that in the
course of five minutes this reasoning in
sect had filled in i've inches of dust and
put his formidable adversary completely
at his mercy.
The most skillful engineers, Todleben
or Beauregard, could not have thrown up
earthworks with profounder calculation
than this natural englneer.-Now Orleans
Cooperative Ne,os.