WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



" The buzzing flies, a persevering train, 

 Incessant swarm, and chased return again." 



Why do not these wasps, fly-catchers as they are by pro- 

 fession, kill the worthless wretches that infest their 

 homes, thriving abundantly on the fruits of their labor, 

 a continual menace to the life and safety of their off- 

 spring ? To the uninitiated it would seem that these flies 

 might serve as food for the wasp larvae quite as well as any 

 of the dozen species that they actually take ; but even if 

 the wasp-mother believes that they possess indigestible 

 qualities, it would be much less trouble to kill them and 

 throw them away than to be perpetually chasing them 

 to a little distance only to see them return as soon as 

 she gives her attention to anything else. Whatever the 

 reason for it may be, the relation between the wasps and 

 the flies is certainly most curious and puzzling. Fabre's 

 explanation is that since this miserable little fly has its 

 own part to play in nature, Bembex must respect it, 

 thus preserving harmony in the world of living things. 

 The idea is perfectly in accord with his own theories, 

 but we find ourselves quite unable to accept it. 



There can be no doubt that the parasites are a grave 

 danger to Bembex. She suffers from them far more than 

 any other wasp that we are familiar with, her mode of 

 feeding the young rendering her peculiarly susceptible 



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