INSECTS AND COLOR

Evening Star, Issue 18785, 8 November 1924, Page 16

INSECTS AND COLOR

Wasps have a keen sense of color, lord Avebury placed colored paper over a wasps nest, with a hole to allow free entrance (says a writer in T.Pvs and Cassel s Weekly ’). Ho constantly removed the papers to various distances from the nest, replacing them by others of different colors. The wasps flew to tho colore-cl papera to which they had' become accustomed. Been too, havo a very keen sense of, color, and the ability to discriminate between variations in shades. Blues we favorites, including (pale blue and violet, and, though purplo reds ere visited and in favor, yet scarlets are disliked. Yellows or greens are passed by if flowers of more favored colors are present. In some of tho delightful rural spots in England people still believe that bees are interested in the world affairs, especially when these affairs affect their owners. Failure to inform the bees is a serious breach of confidence, so grievous, indeed, that they are liable to die of disappointment! To prevent disaster, it is customary to visit the hives and tell the news; to decorate them on feasts and holidays; and on the occasion of a marriage or a birth, to use colored cloth; whilst a death puts the bees into mourning, and black crepe is fastened to the hivts. Good news or bad, tho owner taps three times, and tells all he can. It is always better to use the front door key to tap with.