Evening star., 1944-03-13
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TracepeU

L
A correspondent wants to know how to
discourage hornets from building in a
bird house.
The simplest way is to remove the
house to another location as far removed
as possible from the original site
In this way the automatic habits of
the hornets are broken up. Stopping up
the entrance will not do it, because the
creatures return Immediately when the
obstruction is removed.
They are tenacious, once they have
decided upon a place. 1t is the place
they like. ~
Another way is to let them have their
chosen site, and put up new bird box
some place else. In this way one eats
his cake and has it, too; hornets are very
interesting, and well-worth watching
at a respectful distance.
Liking for birds ought not to be an
exclusive preoccupation of the friend of
nature. Peattie, in one of his books,
has told us how good nature is after all;
how animals fight simply and decently,
without the horrible plotting and cruelty
of man. The brute creatures so-called,
at times seem to be cruel and no doubt
they are, from purely physical stand
purpose, to get something to eat. Man,
at least in 1914, has no such excuse.
There seems to be plenty to go around,
but we won't let it go round. 1t is
there the trouble lies
Hornets and Wasps and the various
carpenter bees make a most interesting
study
1t is not always possible one must
admit, to accept them in that light,
especially when they insist on making
a nest in letter box.
The letter box at the front door seems
to be a favorite of hornets.
They will put up with almost any
amount of interference, in order to
build in this dearly loved place. In
most cases they are not troublesome,
as long as they are left alone to their
devices.
Some waspS known as yellow Jackets
are favorites of small boys everywhere.
They like to build under roofs and put
up fascinating dwelling. Since there
may be thousands of yellow Jackets in
one nest, it is wise to let them alone.
All members of the hornet and wasp
tribes like to get into attics, and are
experts at it. The careful housewife
does not understand how they get in.
Often wasp nests are built on window
frames, in such way that the glass
serves as one side of the nest. BY being
careful to keep the window shut and
we'll locked, 1t is possible to have a grand
stand seat.
In recent years the English hornet
has gained a foothold in this country.
1t was first introduced in New York. to
consume an inimical insect Like most
such ventures, it largely failed of ats
purpose, but the hornet extended it's
range and is now found on many States.
Bees and humble bees make up dis
tinct department of nature. There are
honey bees, and miner bees and leaf
cutting bees and carpenter bees among
the most interesting of all. The last
named OF these is very dark bee the
male having green eyes. It's mate has
black eyes, and she carries a sting and
good one. She is the carpenter of the
family. She bites out the tunnel with
her Jaws and carefully sweeps out the
SaWdust and chips with small brushes
attached to her hind legs
She can bore out hole as true and
neat as any carpenter. 1t is smooth and
clean. The main tunnel is half an
inch in diameter and may extend for
l8 inches. There is a small entrance
hall, too
She carefully makes small loaves
of bee-bread, as it is called They are
pollen, SWeetened with honey. She puts
one loaf of bee-bread in each of the
small cells she makes by erecting parti-
tions made out Of chips. On each loaf
she lays an egg. This egg develops into
a white grub If a human being sees
this grub, he calls it a worm and per-
haps shuddels. But he is looking at
| one of natures marvelS In the spring
the grub develops into a fine new car
penter bee with gauzy wings and beauti-
ful green or black eyes, as the case may
be. Carpenter bees carefully clean out
the old tunnels and use them year after
year. No one can blame them for that
1t takes the mother day to bore half
an inch.