WASPS, SOCIAL AND SOLITARY 



existence, since nine days had elapsed since the hatching 

 of the egg. It may be that this period just before pupa- 

 tion is a critical point in the life history of a wasp, for we 

 lost several of our nurslings at this time, and Fabre has 

 noted that when, on account of the presence of parasites, 

 the larva of Bembex rostrata had lacked something of 

 its usual amount of nourishment, it perished miserably 

 at the end of its larval stage, not having strength enough 

 to spin its cocoon. No waspling in our charge ever 

 died from lack of nourishment — on that score our 

 consciences are clear ; but it was difficult to make their 

 conditions quite normal, and for this reason we may 

 have been, indirectly, the cause of their death. 



The way in which our Oxybelus carries its prey is pe- 

 culiar to itself. Bembex and Philanthus also hold their 

 prey under the body, but use the second pair of legs, so 

 that it does not project behind except at the moment of 

 entrance into the nest. Quadrinotatus, as we could dis- 

 tinctly see, since she passed close to us several times in 

 quick succession, clasps the head of her victim in the 

 third pair of legs, and flying thus, with its whole body 

 sticking out behind her, she certainly presents a very 

 remarkable appearance. 



Aporus fascia;tus is a dark gray species, and is less than 

 half an inch in length. We were working one hot day in 



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