SURROUNDINGS OF GROWING INSECTS 243 



construction of cocoons appears to be all devoted to nest- 

 making, as the pupae have been observed to lie completely 

 unclothed. 



This wonderful application to the community work of ants' 

 nests of the silk production characteristic of so many insect 

 larvae, may well conclude our survey of the environment of 

 insects during the preparatory stages of their life-histories. 

 For it illustrates in a striking manner the conclusions to which 

 the facts set forth in this and the preceding chapters tend : 

 the high degree of adaptibility shown by insect larvae in form 



FIG. IlS. WORKERS OF THE TROPICAL AFRICAN ANT (OeCOphylla 



smaragdiiia). 



Two holding leaf-edges together with their mandibles, and 

 two grasping larvae which are spinning threads so as to fasten 

 the leaves, x 4. After Doflein, Bio. Centralbl. XXV. 



and behaviour, the divergence in structure and habit from their 

 parents which they exhibit in varying degrees, and the corre- 

 lation that nevertheless exists between the activities of larva 

 and imago for the working out of the complete life-history. 

 The Oecophylla worker with the spinning grub co-operating, 

 yet passive, held between its jaws, illustrates how, throughout 

 the class of Insects, the larvae, together with the adults, have 

 their share in the weaving of the great intertwined " web of 

 life ". 



