47« 



Marvels of Insect Life* 



she turns it into c\-lindrical cells, which are usually joined end to end, so that she 

 gets a continuous round-backed ridge on the wall. Each of these cells she stocks 

 with green caterpillars in turn as it is completed. Where she is engaged in her 

 building operations, the ruby-tail ^ may usually be seen as an interested spectator, 

 watchinc; for her opportunitx- to bring the mason's labours to naught. 



A little-known species,- found in the Mediterranean region, makes its 

 nests in the earth, and connects them by a gallery two and a half inches long. 

 It renders this galler}^ difficult of access to enemies by erecting a chimney- 

 like porch after the manner of the first-named species. This precaution is very 

 necessary in this case, because the cells are not provisioned and sealed up, but 

 the grubs are fed more like those of the social wasps, by the mother bringing them 

 food from time to time. This food consists of a paste resembling dried honey. 



Ruby-Wasps. 



In our account of the 

 mason- wasps, we have re- 

 ferred to the destruction of 

 their grubs by the inter- 

 position of the ruby-tails or 

 cuckoo-wasps.^ As there 

 are many species of these, 

 of which our own islands 

 harbour about twent\', it 

 appears desirable to give 

 them more extended notice. 

 They are all small Insects, 

 and parasitic upon wasps 

 and bees. But what thevlack 

 in size they make up for in 

 brilliancy of colouring, and 

 their metallic polish gleam- 

 ing in the sunshine, of which 

 they are so fond, makes them 

 far more conspicuous than 

 most Insects of their size. They are not gatherers of honey, pollen, or Insects for 

 the sustenance of their progeny; but they take equally effective means to ensure the 

 perpetuation of their species, though at the expense of distant relations. 



The method adopted by the female ruby- wasp is to haunt the spot where 

 a mason-wasp, for example, is provisioning a cell and is nearly ready for closing it. 

 Then the ruby-wasp, taking aclvantage of the temporary absence of the architect, 

 enters and deposits her own eggs — not one egg, as alone appears to be necessary, 

 but a number which may be as many as ten. The object of this prodigality in 

 egg-production is not clear, for, as far as observations have gone, only one appears 

 to hatch and the others perish. The different species of ruby-wasp attach them- 

 selves, in most cases, to hosts of particular species. An exception occurs in the 



1 Clirysis ignita. - Ceramiiis lusitanicus. * Chrysis. 



Photo bv 



E. Slcp, J-'.L..s. 



Mason-Wasp's Towers. 



Two of the towers erected during the construction of the tunnel and underground cells. 

 These are taken to pieces again to provide material for blocking up the entrance to the 

 cells. Four times the actual si-te. 



