Identifier: transformationso01dunc (find matches)
Title: The transformations (or metamorphoses) of insects (Insecta, Myriapoda, Arachnida, and Crustacea) : being an adaptation, for English readers, of M. Émile Blanchard's "Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects;" and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, Spence Bate, Fritz Müller, Packard, Lubbock, Stainton, and others
Year: 1870 (1870s)
Authors: Duncan, P. Martin (Peter Martin), 1821-1891 Blanchard, Emile, 1819-1900. Metamorphoses, moeurs et instincts des insects Conger, Paul S., former owner. DSI Abbott, Charles C., former owner. DSI
Subjects: Insects Insects Myriapoda Arachnida Crustacea
Publisher: Philadelphia : Claxton, Remsen, and Haffelfinger
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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formed into a long pedicle constitute the groupof the Polistitcs. Linnaeus, without much regard to the geographicaldistribution of one of the species, called a very common wasp ofthis kind Polistes gallica. The French Polistcs is a black insectdecorated with yellow tints, which are also observed on theantenna;. It frequents open spaces in woods, and there are fewprettier sights than that presented in the spring-time by one ofthe females when it is building its little nest, or is attending toits larvaj. It is not difficult to observe all this, for the Polistesattach their nests to low plants and bushes. The brooms espe-cially furnish them with straight and narrow twigs, which arevery convenient for their particular method of nest building.The mother, after having hybernated during the winter, begins towork earnestly and with great perseverance early in May, and com-mences to construct her nest with materials which resemble thoseused by the bush wasp. The fibres of bark are reduced into
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Polistcs ml lie a AND nests. THE rOLISTRS GALLIC A. 237 a homogeneous paste, which is converted into a strong greypaper. The Polistcs first uses a large quantity of this paper toform a soHd foundation for the nest, and a strong peduncle, whichhas to maintain the comb. The comb is very small, and thereare not often more than five, si.x, or eight cells in it. It is nevercovered up with envelopes, and although it is increased in sizesubsequently by the addition of new cells, it is never enclosedand protected from the weather. Any one interested in the habitsof these industrious Hyuicnoptcra, and who will visit the neigh-bourhood of their nests dail), can study all the phases of thelife of the larvai, for these pretty nests without envelopes, andunsheltered, offer every opportunity for the investigation ; butalthough apparently so liable to be injured by rain and wind,they are so made that the larv;t are perfectly safe inside. Thenests are always placed obliquely, so that the rain falls o

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