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Paper, 'Observation about wasps, and the difference of their sexes' by William Derham

Reference number: CLP/15i/74

Date: January 1724

Description

Derham explains how he spent time at the top of Collegiate Chapel in Windsor Castle in July 1723, and how he observed many wasps flying around during this time. He shares observations on the queen wasp and common labouring wasps. He goes on to describe the differences between the queens, the kings, and the common labouring wasps. Annotations in ink throughout.

Subject: Zoology / Entomology

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'Observations about Wasps, and the difference of their sexes'

Read to the Royal Society on 23 January 1724

Reference number
CLP/15i/74
Earliest possible date
January 1724
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
10 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator name

William Derham

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Citation

William Derham, Paper, 'Observation about wasps, and the difference of their sexes' by William Derham, January 1724, CLP/15i/74, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_15i_74/paper-observation-about-wasps-and-the-difference-of-their-sexes-by-william-derham, accessed on 16 May 2026

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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