146 LIFE STORIES OF AUSTRALIAN INSECTS. 



eggs are usually placed in the warmest part of 

 the nest, in the upper chamber, in the day-time at 

 least. The larvae hatch out and are tended and 

 removed by the workers, who clean and feed them 

 and lick them all over with the salivary fluid. These 

 "nurse" workers attend the larvae all through the 

 day, remove them from chamber to chamber accord- 

 ing to the need. 



The larva (Plate i8. Fig. i) is a creamy-white 

 legless grub, or hymenopterous maggot. It differs 

 from the typical maggot of the Order Diptera 

 (flies), in having the head and thorax bent over 

 on its body. It has no eyes, for it is in a helpless 

 condition, entirely dependent on the workers for 

 food and care. It has well formed mouth parts, 

 and spiracles or breathing pores. Like most insects 

 it has hairs disposed over its body, and in some 

 cases there are elongate curious "spring" hairs 

 which are curved and have a hook at the free end. 

 (Plate i8. Fig. 2). The hook fastens on to the 

 earth or medium on which they are lying and the 

 whole construction of these spring hairs pre- 

 vents the jarring or tearing of the delicate larvK, 

 when the workers rush to seize them and carry 

 them away if the nest is disturbed. When the larva 

 is full grown it pupates, either as a naked pupa 

 (Plate 18, Fig. 3), or with the pupa enclosed in a 

 cocoon. (Plate 18, Fig. 4). In those species whose 

 larvae spin cocoons, the workers place the full-grown 

 larva in loose sand, where it makes a hollow 

 by twisting and pressing, and in this hollow it begins 

 to form the cocoon by fastening threads to the sides 



