Identifier: transformationso00dunc (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, murs et instincts des insects (!)," and a compilation from the works of Newport, Charles Darwin, and others
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Duncan, P. Martin (Peter Martin), 1821-1891 Blanchard, Emile, 1819-1900
Subjects: Metamorphosis of insects
Publisher: London, Paris, New York : Cassell, Petter & Galpin
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ed into a long pedicle constitute the groupof the Polistites. Linnaeus, without much regard to the geographicaldistribution of one of the species, called a very common Avasp ofthis kind Polistes gallica. The French Polistcs is a black insectdecorated with yellow tints, which are also observed on theantennae. 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 larvK. It is not difficult to observe all this, for the Polistcsattach their nests to low plants and bushes. The brooms cspe-•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 IMay, 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 irallica and nests. THE rOLTSTES GALLIC A. 237 a homogeneous paste, which is converted into a strong grey-paper. 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, six, 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 Hymenoptcra, and Avho will visit the neigh-bourhood of their nests daily, can study all the phases of thelife of the larvae, 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 larvae are perfectly safe inside. Thenests are always placed obliquely, so that the rain falls of

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