Evening star., 1949-07-30
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,Dell
ARLINGTON. Va,

ARLINGTON, Va.
Dear Sir:
"Whlte-faced wasps! There's breed of
insects that bears watching. They sneak up
on you.
First. large queen wasp was working
alone on an inoffensive-lookingn nest about
the size of a lemon (Which we first noticed
1t in the hedge).
Then an umbrella like top and tubular
entrance at the bottom which fell off and
was not replaced.
The umbrella heightened into an outer
wall. and as several smaller workers ap-
peared. other layers were formed and the
nest had grown to small canteloupe.
"The population had increased consid-
erably md the colony became decided in
dlSncS~M the immediate locality.
Hedge trimming in the vicinity ceased.
Lawn moving was done on the run and
not too close to the base Of the hedge, for
we had found that If the workers had no
stingers. they summoned help very rapidly
when disturbed. and whatever the title of
i theEAxpS rushing to the rescue, they packed
quite 9" wallop.
Our young son can attest to that, and
our dog, caroming into the hedge in pursuit
Of his ball, yelped his corroboration in very
evident distress.
"Swarms of wasps now fly in and out of
the traffic pattern above the foorballish nest
as we view with some concern and at con-
siderable distance their ever increasing &C
tivity.
y X X
1--WE have read that some wasps war on
the Jap beetle, but we have yet to see one
OF this species molesting in the slightest any
Of the thousands Of beetles around close at
hand, just waiting to be attacked.
"The only wasps I've noticed away from
the nest appeared to be trying to eat my
picket fence, and these lunged at me when
attempted to pick few Of my own black
berries growing nearby.
Can you finish the chapter for me? Do
the wasps finally take over the whole yard
while we cringe behind screens, and do
they return in even greater numbers, from
summer to sumper? Or is there a winter
evacuation which permits the removal of
the nest and the posting of No Vacancy
signs in an effort Of discouragement. and
will this work?
ANY enlightenment you can throw on
the dark and sinister lives of these strange
beasts will be appreciated, especially any in
formation that will assist in persuading
them to settle some place else.
Very truly yours, E. S. b.
y X II
A long clothes line pole-the longer the
better-is the time-honored instrument to
be used In dislodging hornets.
These are the white-faced hornets, Vespa
maculata. famous as the worlds first paper
makers.
That was what they were doing, trying to
"eat" our correspondents fence. They were
getting pulp, just as human paper maker
| must.
The clothes line pole is protruded toward
the nest and given sharp lunge.
Uvni md
and far.
1t is best to wear thick leather gloves, 4
big hat and plenty Of clothes, and also a
fine wire mask, If one Is available
After the nest Is dislodged the creatures
are at loss what to- do, and eventually
abandon it. to begin all over again. That is
what nature has taught them to do.
A strong DDT spray. too, may do the
work, but this viii strike most persons as q
completely dirty trick.
The hornets afford an excellent opportun-
| ity for watching different form of life, and
not only that, but an entirely different sys-
| TEN Of living. They demonstrate commu-
nism, pure and simple; they are efficient,
wonderful papermakers, and warriors-but
| Is it q system you, the observer. would like?
In collecting the pulp the wasp goes back
ward rscraping of the pulp with its jaws. and
moistening 1t as 1t goes. forming round ball
Of paper pulp which is spread into a sheet
| in the nest. In enlarging the inside they use
| the extra material for making q comb or put
| it on the outside.
II DDT spray Is used it should be applied
| ct night, with no extra light used. This
probably win get them all. But it is not =
method Of choice. since these are such in
teresting creatures. II one keeps well away
| from them they usually let one alone.
And when winter comes-that settles the
problem, ut least for the time being. Then
the nest may be removed. Only the queen
lives. and she Is not to be found easily.
(She's probably In the attic.)