92 



Marvels of Insect Life* 



below the spider she stings the latter in the jaws, and again along the side of the 

 fore-body. The encounter is over, for the spider is paralyzed. After an inspection 

 to satisfy herself that the spider is incapable, Sahus goes off to find a hole suitable 

 for conversion into a nest, and sometimes she will use the hole from which she has 

 provoked the spider to issue to its death. Spider-holes, however, do not as a rule 

 commend themselves for the purpose, and the wasp goes off in search of one more 

 suitable, leaving the spider on the ground until she has found it. 



Daddy Long-legs. 



One of the most familiar of Insects is the large, two-winged fly that is variously 

 known as the crane-fly and daddy long-legs. ^ Its familiarity is due to its habit 

 of coming indoors and straddling about the windows with its ridiculously long legs. 



The Tarantula-Killer. 



Actual photographs of the species of wasp shown in the drawing attacking the big bird-spider, and tcnown in Texas as the 

 tarantula-killer. The disproportion between the wasp and the spider is so great as to make the contest appear absurd, but it 

 usually ends in victory for the wasp. The sting of the wasp is so effectual a preservative that a stung spider has been known to 

 keep fresh for more than a year 



That is to say, its legs appear ridiculous when seen in such a place ; but on the 

 grass-land, where it is more at home, its length of leg is not inappropriate. Daddy 

 in its larval stage is a pest ; but Mrs. Daddy when engaged in the important task 

 of stocking our lawns and pastures with a new generation is an interesting figure. 

 Her long, slender legs fitting between the grass-blades enable her the better 

 to bend down her hind-body and use it as a boring implement, with which to make 

 a hole in the ground in which she can lay one of her numerous shiny black eggs. 

 Unlike many Insects that have a large number of eggs to dispose of and which 

 drop them in batches, the crane-fly appears to have the desire that each of her 

 offspring shah have a fair amount of feeding ground without undue competition ; 

 so she lays them singly and scattered. The termination of her body is more 



1 Tipula oleracea. 



