The Leucospes 



bees, who work in May, have long disap- 

 peared. The nests on the pebbles are all 

 closed, the provisioning is finished, the larvae 

 are sleeping in their yellow cocoons. As the 

 old nests are utilized by the Mason so long as 

 they are not too much dilapidated, the dome 

 which has just been vacated by the Leucospis, 

 now more than a year old, has its other cells 

 occupied by the Bee's children. There is 

 here, without seeking farther, a fat living for 

 the Leucospis' offspring which she well knows 

 how to turn to profit. It depends but on her- 

 self to make the house In which she was born 

 into the residence of her family. Besides, If 

 she has a fancy for distant exploration, clay 

 domes abound In the harmas. The inocula- 

 tion of the eggs through the walls will begin 

 shortly. Before witnessing this curious per- 

 formance, let us examine the needle that Is to 

 effect it. 



The Insect's abdomen Is hollowed, at the 

 top, Into a furrow that runs up to the base of 

 the thorax; the end, which Is broader and 

 rounded, has a narrow slit, which seems to 

 divide this region into two. The whole thing 

 suggests a pulley with a fine groove. When 

 at rest, the Inoculating-needle or ovipositor re- 

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