FUNGI. 231 



tale is, that insects of all orders, and in all conditions, 

 whether of larvae, chrysalis, or perfect insect, are 

 liable to the attacks of a parasitic fungus, which first 

 attacks them most probably in the living condition, 

 and increases and thrives in their interior, at the cost 

 of their tissues, which are ultimately wholly absorbed, 

 and the insect gradually dies, its whole substance, 

 except the outer skin or case, being replaced by the 

 mycelium, or spawn, of the parasite. This condition 

 being arrived at, the external development of the 

 fungus takes place, by the growth of one or more 

 cylindrical or club-shaped processes from some part 

 of the body, usually near the head. These stems 

 vary in size, according to that of the insect, from the 

 thickness of a pin to that of a cedar pencil, and from 

 less than an inch to several inches in length.-"- The 

 apex gradually swells into an oval or cylindrical 

 head, which latter is dotted all over with minute 

 points. When mature, the entire head is covered 

 with little cells, just buried beneath the surface, which 

 contain the fructification of the fungus. This is the 

 full development of the fungus parasite, which appears 

 as an excrescence upon the surface of the insect, and 

 has given occasion for " traveller's tales," 



One of the earliest notices of these parasites dates 

 about the middle of the eighteenth century, when 

 some wasps were found in the West Indies with the 

 fungus growing out of them, and under the name of 

 "vegetable wasps" entered the pages of history. 

 This species is a small one, rather tough, pallid, with 



^ For full particulars of the various species, consult " Vegetable 

 Wasps and Plant Worms," by M. C. Cooke. (1892.) 



