On Tue, 20 Aug 1996, Dennis Paulson wrote:

[snip..]

I just looked in a few insect books to see if I could find
> any support for what Janet wrote, and it seems that indeed the nests break
> up in the fall, but no one said anything about food being harder to find or
> aggression increasing.

Dennis et al--

Well, I guess I must have hallucinated the whole dang thing..
I checked with my Emeritus colleague, from whom I thought I
got that info on the *mystery enzyme* theory, and he said
he didn't know where I got that one but he certainly didn't
tell me. sighh-hhhhh...and it was such a plausible possibility..

But, he did say that while he knew nothing of the existence of
the idea that wasps are starving to death because they no longer
produce that enzyme, it might be true..i.e., he
didn't flat out deny the possibility.. I asked for a good
wasp reference and he said he'd think about it and call me
later..

Sorry for the misinformation...at least it's misinformation
for the moment.. :)

Tom