134 THE PBRRIODICAL CICADA, 
entrance is easy, and slowly feeds on the soft, juicy interior. The 
larva remains outside of the Cicada throughout its life, but by means 
of its very extensile anterior segments, or neck, thrusts its small head 
throughout the interior of the Cicada and gradually exhausts the soft 
parts until the Cicada becomes a mere broken 
shell. The wasp larva increases in size very 
rapidly, ultimately attaining a length of 14 to 2 
inches. It is then nearly white in color, with 
the head and mouth parts remarkably well 
developed and the anterior segments narrowed 
and capable of very great extension. The whole 
transformation from the egg to the full-grown 
larva is comprised in a very brief period, the egg 
hatching after two or three days and the larval 
life not much exceeding a week. 
Pe Ma eee yr When fully grown the larva constructs a co- 
natural size; b, enlarged sec- Coon in a very peculiar manner. First a cylin- 
Mon/of pore. (tery) der, open at both ends, is formed of earth awit 
enough silk incorporated to form a rather dense and tough pod. 
When the cocoon is nearly completed the ends are capped, and the 
larva remains unchanged over winter and transforms to a pupa in the 
spring or early summer shortly before the appearance of the mature 
Fia. 61.—Mite egg parasite, Oribatella sp. Fic. 62.—Mite egg parasite, Oripoda 
(Author’s illustration). elongala. (Author’s illustration). 
insect. About the center of the cocoon are a number of very curious 
structures which may serve as breathing pores until the larva has 
become accustomed to its new conditions, since they are ultimately 
sealed over, as represented in the illustration (fig. 60, 0). 
