﻿SOLITARY 
  WASP 
  — 
  REINHARD. 
  369 
  

  

  In 
  figure 
  5 
  four 
  mandibles 
  are 
  shown, 
  corresponding 
  to 
  the 
  four 
  

   larval 
  instars. 
  Each 
  stage 
  exhibits 
  a 
  progressive 
  lengthening 
  and 
  

   narrowing 
  of 
  the 
  mandibular 
  shaft, 
  and 
  a 
  blunting 
  and 
  equalizing 
  

   of 
  the 
  isH-th. 
  This 
  development 
  continues 
  during 
  the 
  pupal 
  stages 
  

   (fig. 
  6) 
  where 
  two 
  of 
  the 
  teeth 
  become 
  obsolete, 
  and 
  finally 
  results 
  

   in 
  the 
  long, 
  acuminate 
  mandibles 
  of 
  the 
  imago 
  (fig. 
  1). 
  

  

  THE 
  COCOON, 
  PUPAL 
  PERIOD, 
  EMERGENCE. 
  

  

  Thus 
  far 
  in 
  its 
  career 
  the 
  larva 
  has 
  shown 
  no 
  talents 
  save 
  those 
  

   of 
  a 
  butcher 
  and 
  a 
  trencherman. 
  Now 
  it 
  will 
  weave 
  a 
  silken 
  teepee 
  

   to 
  shelter 
  it 
  during 
  the 
  critical 
  period 
  of 
  the 
  transfiguration. 
  The 
  

   cocoon 
  (pi. 
  2, 
  fig. 
  10) 
  when 
  completed 
  is 
  a 
  bulbous 
  case 
  composed 
  of 
  

   a 
  single 
  ply 
  of 
  homogeneous, 
  straw-colored 
  silk. 
  These 
  silken 
  walls 
  

   are 
  sometimes 
  obscured 
  by 
  a 
  white 
  cottony 
  flock 
  which 
  rubs 
  off 
  

   readily 
  and 
  leaves 
  the 
  cocoon 
  almost 
  as 
  translucent 
  as 
  an 
  amber 
  

   bead. 
  It 
  has 
  the 
  shape 
  

   of 
  a 
  very 
  long 
  pear, 
  

   with 
  its 
  tapering 
  neck, 
  

   colored 
  brown 
  by 
  the 
  

   stercoral 
  plug 
  securely 
  

   fastened 
  to 
  the 
  rear 
  

   wall 
  of 
  the 
  cell. 
  The 
  

   blunt 
  end 
  is 
  free 
  and 
  

  

  invariably 
  points 
  to- 
  FlG 
  - 
  6< 
  — 
  The 
  P 
  u 
  P 
  al 
  mandibles 
  of 
  Philanthus 
  gibbosus. 
  

  

  1 
  , 
  , 
  „ 
  , 
  The 
  chitlnized 
  mandibles 
  of 
  the 
  adult 
  are 
  shown 
  in 
  

  

  Ward 
  the 
  mouth 
  01 
  the 
  formation 
  within 
  the 
  swollen, 
  fleshy 
  mandibles 
  of 
  the 
  

  

  buiTOW 
  the 
  Corridor 
  pupa. 
  Mandible 
  of 
  white-eyed 
  pupa 
  at 
  left, 
  of 
  black- 
  

  

  » 
  .. 
  eyed 
  pupa 
  at 
  right. 
  (X 
  36.) 
  

  

  tor 
  exit. 
  

  

  It 
  takes 
  the 
  insect 
  weaver 
  48 
  hours 
  to 
  complete 
  its 
  cocoon. 
  As 
  a 
  

   sort 
  of 
  preliminary 
  scaffolding 
  the 
  larva 
  spins 
  a 
  loose, 
  cobwebby 
  

   hammock 
  in 
  the 
  cell. 
  This 
  much, 
  though 
  mere 
  preparation, 
  requires 
  

   15 
  hours 
  of 
  labor. 
  Then 
  a 
  light 
  silk 
  bag 
  is 
  spun 
  on 
  this 
  support. 
  

   Its 
  tip 
  is 
  open 
  and 
  attached 
  to 
  the 
  wall. 
  Toward 
  the 
  end 
  of 
  the 
  task 
  

   the 
  open 
  tip 
  is 
  sewed 
  up. 
  Last 
  of 
  all, 
  two 
  days 
  after 
  the 
  abode 
  is 
  

   completed, 
  the 
  occupant 
  fits 
  its 
  faeces 
  into 
  the 
  narrow 
  neck, 
  and 
  with 
  

   that 
  act 
  all 
  larval 
  activity 
  ceases. 
  

  

  Eight 
  months 
  pass, 
  and 
  the 
  larva 
  sleeps 
  on 
  in 
  its 
  silken 
  flask. 
  The 
  

   chemicals 
  are 
  mixed, 
  the 
  retort 
  filled, 
  but 
  the 
  flame 
  has 
  not 
  yet 
  been 
  

   applied. 
  At 
  last 
  the 
  long 
  lethargy 
  reaches 
  an 
  end, 
  and 
  the 
  shape- 
  

   less 
  grub 
  is 
  metamorphosed 
  into 
  a 
  nymph. 
  But 
  should 
  the 
  grub 
  

   belong 
  to 
  the 
  first 
  generation 
  it 
  will 
  take 
  only 
  a 
  week's 
  siesta 
  in 
  

   preparation 
  for 
  the 
  nymphosis. 
  Then 
  the 
  larval 
  wrapper 
  is 
  thrown 
  

   off 
  and 
  the 
  delicately-molded 
  pupa 
  (pi. 
  2, 
  figs. 
  6, 
  7, 
  8) 
  makes 
  its 
  

   appearance. 
  The 
  transitory 
  pupae 
  that 
  link 
  larva 
  to 
  wasp 
  are 
  feeble, 
  

   grotesque 
  organisms, 
  mere 
  ghosts 
  of 
  the 
  perfect 
  insect. 
  They 
  look 
  

  

  