FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



neck, to destroy its power of movement. TWis enables 

 her to kill and eat an insect as big as herself, or even 

 bigger. It is amazing that the greedy creature can con- 

 tain so much food. 



The various Digger-wasps receive visits from her 

 pretty frequently. Posted near the burrows on a bram- 

 ble, she waits for chance to bring near her a double prize, 

 the Hunting-wasp and the prey she is bringing home. 

 For a long time she waits in vain; for the Wasp is sus- 

 picious and on her guard: still, now and then a rash 

 one is caught. With a sudden rustle of wings the 

 Mantis terrifies the new-comer, who hesitates for a mo- 

 ment in her fright. Then, with the sharpness of a 

 spring, the Wasp is fixed as in a trap between the blades 

 of the double saw — the toothed fore-arm and toothed 

 upper-arm of the Mantis. The victim is then gnawed 

 in small mouthfuls. 



I once saw a Bee-eating Wasp, while carrying a Bee 

 to her storehouse, attacked and caught by a Mantis. 

 The Wasp was in the act of eating the honey she had 

 found in the Bee's crop. The double saw of the Mantis 

 closed suddenly on the feasting Wasp; but neither terror 

 nor torture could persuade that greedy creature to leave 

 off eating. Even while she was herself being actually 

 devoured she continued to lick the honey from her Bee I 



I regret to say that the meals of this savage ogress 



[44] 



