IX 



ADVANCED THEORIES 



There are many species of Sphex, but for the 

 most part strangers to our country. As far as I 

 know, the French fauna contains but three — all lovers 

 of the hot sun in the olive region — namely, Sphex 

 flavipennis, S. albisecta, and S. occitanica. It is not 

 without keen interest that an observer notices in all 

 three of these predatory insects a choice of pro- 

 vender in conformity with the strict laws of entomo- 

 logical classification. To nourish their larvae each 

 confines itself to Orthoptera. The first hunts 

 grasshoppers, the second crickets, and the third 

 ephippigers. 



These prey are so different outwardly that to 

 associate them and seize their analogies, either the 

 practised eye of the entomologist, or the not less 

 expert one of the Sphex is needed. Compare the 

 grasshopper with the cricket : the former has a 

 round, stumpy head ; it is short and thickset, quite 

 black, with red stripes on its hind thighs ; the 

 latter is grayish and slim, with a small conical head, 

 springing suddenly by unbending its long hind legs, 

 and carrying on this spring with fanlike wings. Now 



ii6 



