The Volucella 



some of the white grubs, thanks to the holes 

 that make the wrapper resemble a spongy 

 cover, manage to slip inside the Wasps'-nest. 

 Still, most of the Volucella's larvae, at what- 

 ever stage of their development, are in the 

 basement of the burrow, among the carrion 

 remains. The others, those settled in the 

 Wasps' home itself, are comparatively few. 



These returns are enough to show us that 

 the grubs of the Volucella do not deserve 

 the bad reputation that has been given them. 

 Satisfied with the spoils of the dead, they 

 do not touch the living; they do not ravage 

 the Wasps'-nest, they disinfect it. 



Experiment confirms what we have learnt 

 in the actual nests. Over and over again, I 

 bring Wasp-grubs and Volucella-grubs to- 

 gether in small test-tubes, which are easy to 

 observe. The first are well and strong; I 

 have just taken them from their cells. The 

 others are in various stages, from that of the 

 snow-flake born the same day to that of the 

 sturdy Porcupine. 



There is nothing tragic about the en- 

 counter. The Flies' grubs roam about the 

 test-tube without touching the live tit-bit. 

 The most that they do is to put their mouths 

 for a moment to the morsel; then they take it 

 away again, not caring for the dish. 

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