241) 



what is true of this particukir species is true of other digger-wasps iu 

 providing for their young. Some of the hitherto unrecorded facts in 

 reference to this more common and conspicuous species will serve to 

 indicate the general habits and life-history of all. 



Fifi. 33. — iliiiriiws of tSpheciiis speciosvs : e. e. c. main ontraiice ; c. c. c. c. chambers for larvit and tlieir 

 food — KTeatly rertni'cd (original). 



During the latter half of July and the 1st of August, when the note 

 of the Cicada in question is filling the air with its vibrations, our digger- 

 wasp is not idle, l)ut may be observed in rapid, strong flight about the 

 trees harboring its prey. The sudden cessation of the regular note of 

 the unsuspecting Cicada and in its stead 

 a distressing, discordant cry will catch 

 the ear of the observer and apprise him 

 that something is wrong, if he be in any 

 way acquainted with the subject of the 

 tragedy that is being enacted. A quick 

 thrust of the sting of the wasp into the 

 body of its victim i)aralyzes the latter and 

 throws it into a comatose condition, from 

 which it never recovers. The vital func- 

 tions are suspended or greatly reduced, 

 but not entirely stopped, and it becomes 

 the nonresisting, half inanimate prey of 

 the delicate larva of the wasp. The ef- 

 fect produced by the sting of one of these 

 wasps on the insects which they provide 

 for tlieir young has always been a subject 

 for speculation, and a curious fact is that 

 should the egg of the wasp fail from any 

 cause to hatch, the paralyzed victim nev- 

 ertheless remains in a state of suspended 

 under favorable conditions for a 

 known 



Fig. 34.— Adnlt Cicada with Sphecius 

 egg attached at a — natural size (orig- 

 inal). 



animation, which will last 

 year and how much longer is not 

 In this preliminary struggle with the Cicada both the wasp 

 and its victim often fall to the ground, and the wasp must then carry the 

 latter back into the tree to get a vantage point from which to fly in the 

 direction of her burrow. Frequently it Avill be necessary to carry the 

 Cicada several times up into a tree, with the expenditure of great labor, 

 before the burrow of the wasp is reached. 



