WASP (AS. mwsp, OHG. ircfsa, M1111.
wefsc, wespe, Ger. Thew, wasp; connected with Lat. respa, OBret. gnohi, OChurch Slay. rose, wasp. Lith. vapsa, gadfly). Any insect of the hymenopterous superfamilies Vespoidea and Spbecoidea, most of the former being known as 'social' wasps, and of the latter as 'solitary' wasps. All of the social wasps belong to the Vespoidea, and according to the present classifi cation there have been added to the group, from structural peculiarities, the wasps of the families Pompilidx, Eumenidre, Sapygidte, Seoliidfe, My zinidie, Tiphiidte, and Thynnidre, all of which lead solitary lives. The superfamilies also contain the so-called solitary velvet ants (q.v.) and the cuckoo-flies, 'gold wasps' (family Chrysididte). as well as two families of parasitic wasps. the Bethylidte, formerly placed in the Proctotrypoi dea, and the Trigonalidfe, formerly placed with the ichneumon-flies. All wasps belong to the old group Aeu]eata, which includes the so-called stinging Hymenoptera. The social wasps have the sting always issuing from the tip of the abdo men, the pronotum not extending hack to the tegulx, the tarsi slender and not dilated or thickened as with the bees. The solitary wasps (superfamily Sphecoidea) are separated from the social wasps by the pronotum, which extends back to the tegulre when these are present; the tro ehanters are one-jointed. These wasps are dis tinguished from the ants by the fact that the first segment of the abdomen is simple and does not contain swellings.
With the exception of the mainly tropical honey-wasps (genus Nectarine), all the young wasps are fed for the most part upon other in sects or insect remains. The true social wasps of the 1.'nited States (see heading Social Insects in artiele INSECTS) belong to the genera Vespa and Polistes, the former including the species which make the paper nests with an outer cover ing. and usually composed of severe] layers of combs; the hitter containing the common, long bodied black wasps with folded wings which build nests of a single comb without any papery en velope. (See Figure 5. Colored Plate of IN SECTS.) These wasps often build their nests in barns and outhouses, but sometimes also in bushes or n pun the lower surfaces of stones slightly raised from the ground. The cells of one of these wasps' nests are hexagonal, in a single layer instead of two, as with the higher bees, and usually vertical instead of horizontal. With
some species the nest consists of but a single comb, as with ['olistes, and with others of a series of combs in tiers, and the whole inclosed in a spherical ease made of many thicknesses of paper, as with many of the Vespas. The nests are en larged by adding cells to the edges of the comb, spare being gained by removing the inner layers of the envelope. These removed portions are masticated and added to the outside. Au egg is laid in each and the young larva when hatch ing hangs with its head downward, suspended by a gummy exeretion from the anus. They are constantly fed by the workers and females with the juices of fruits, flowers. and the masticated remains of insects. When full grown they spin silken cocoons, the lower end of which serves as a cap to the cell. After the adult wasp has emerged the cell is cleaned out and a new egg laid in it. With the larger nest-builders, a month or less elapses from the laying of the egg to the emergenee of the adult. Several genera tions may he reared ill the same cell.
The largest of the American social wasps is the so-called white-faced hornet (Vespa maculate). The European hornet crabro) has been accidentally introduced into the States and has established itself near New' York City. (See HORNET.) The smaller species of Vespa, which are generally marked with yellow and are often known as `yellowjaekets,' frequently nest beneath stumps or stones, although their nests are often also found hanging from rafters and the branches of trees. The nests of Vcspa ger manica. a small yellowjacket„ are commonly found near the ground, and often exceed a foot in diameter. Access to the nest is gained by one or two circular or oval openings about three quarters of an inch in diameter, which lead di rectly to the centre of the nest. The loose outer papery covering is by no means as tough and firm as with the hornets. The combs are built in eight or more horizontal layers attached to each other by strong supports: As a rule the males and queens of true social wasps are not developed until toward autumn, at which time larger cells, always to be found in the lower combs of a nest. are made for their reception.