THE HUNTRESS WASPS 



like this should occur as we study the influence on other 

 species of the wasp's offensive warfare. Wherein does 

 this appear? We select a single field — the counter- 

 defences of spiders against wasps and other enemies. 







A TRAP-DOOR SPIDER (crE.VlZA CALIFORNICa) PURSUED BY A 

 TARANTULA-KILLER (pEPSIS FORMOSA) 



Take first the orb weavers. As evening falls they are 

 seen hanging from the roofs of porches, or from the 

 branch-tips of shrubs and low trees, laying out the 

 radii or spinning in the viscid spirals of their wheel- 

 shaped webs. A little later they may be seen settletl 

 head downward against the central mat of the orb, with 

 legs stretched across the circular space on which no 

 beaded lines are spun. They are ready now for a meal 

 of night-flying moths, and they can take the exposed 

 place at the centre with comparative impunity, for their 



221 



