268 SOCIAL LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD 



Do they perish outside when the more precocioi^ have 

 one by one taken their places in their vegetable larder ? 

 or do they succumb to the intolerant teeth of the first 

 occupants ? Neither explanation is correct. Let us 

 relate the facts. 



On all old peas — they are at this stage dry^ — from 

 which the adult Bruchus has emerged, leaving a large 

 round hole of exit, the magnifying-glass will show a 

 variable number of fine reddish punctuations, perforated 

 in the centre. What are these spots, of which I count 

 five, six, and even more on a snigle pea ? It is 

 impossible to be mistaken : they are the points of 

 entry of as many grubs. Several grubs have entered the 

 pea, but of the whole group only one has survived, 

 fattened, and attained the adult age. And the others ? 

 We shall see. 



At the end of May, and in June, the period of egg- 

 laying, let us inspect the still green and tender peas. 

 Nearly all the peas invaded show us the multiple 

 perforations already observed on the dry peas abandoned 

 by the weevils. Does this actually mean that there are 

 several grubs in the pea ? Yes. Skin the peas in 

 question, separate the cotyledons, and break them up 

 as may be necessary. We shall discover several grubs, 

 extremely youthful, curled up comma-wise, fat and 

 lively, each in a little round niche in the body of the 

 pea. 



Peace and welfare seem to reign in the little 

 community. There is no quarrelling, no jealousy 

 between neighbours. The feast has commenced ; food 

 IS abundant, and the feasters are separated one from 

 another by the walls of uneaten substance. With this 



