12 ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



Each egg is preceded by a light-colored mucous fluid. 

 Part of this fluid passes through the walls of the cavity 

 and causes surrounding particles of dirt, sand, and in 

 some cases small clods (see Figure 12, c/) to adhere; 

 so that the pods when removed from the ground 

 are protected first by a coat of this sticky substance 

 and then by an outer layer composed of particles of 

 surrounding earth. This forms a brittle crust which, 

 when pressed, often scales off, as shown by Fig. 12, c. 

 If the ground is firm, the walls of the pod are generally 

 broken away when the earth is disturbed, thus expos- 

 ing the naked eggs. 



This substance before hardening is quite plastic; 

 after hardening it is somewhat fragile. It is insoluble 

 in water, and thus protects the eggs from rain or snow. 

 When the eggs are all deposited the female covers them 

 with a small amount of this sebaceous fluid. This 

 hardens into a honevcomb structure, as shown in cross- 



J 



section of top of pod, Fr in Fig. 12. The cross-line 

 near top of pod, at // in Fig. 12, shows depth, of 

 covering. The whole pod is finished about one-quarter 

 inch below the surface of the ground, and the ground 

 covered over, leaving no trace of work, as shown on 

 ground surface in Fig. 11. The arrangement of eggs 

 is shown in the longitudinal section of the pod in the 

 foreground of Fig. 11. The number of eggs in a pod 

 is about 100. 



Eggs placed in the ground at this late season, the 

 fall of the year, will not receive heat enough to hatch, 

 so that the species passes through the rigorous period 

 of winter in the ea'g sta^e. During the first warm 



