SEVERAL LITTLE WASPS 



each containing a larva and a supply of caterpillars, of 

 which there were ten in the cell most lately formed, and 

 only one left uneaten in the oldest. The caterpillars, all 

 of them being alive, together with the wasp larvae, were 

 transferred to a place in which they could be conven- 

 iently watched. None of the caterpillars died until they 

 were attacked. The larvae ate all the food that was pro- 

 vided, the oldest one cocooning on the fourth, and the 

 second one on the seventh of September. Of the third, 

 we have no record, excepting that the caterpillars had 

 all been eaten on September eighth. 



We happened to be passing through our neighbor's 

 grounds at nine o'clock on the morning of September 

 fifth, and calling to ask whether there had been any 

 more visits from the wasp, we learned that capra had 

 been seen making a mud partition in the horn on the 

 day before. While we were speaking she arrived and 

 entered the mouthpiece, where she remained for about 

 ten minutes. When she departed we found that she had 

 laid her egg, which we carried away with us, wishing 

 to determine the length of the egg stage. This proved 

 to be longer than that of any wasp that we had hereto- 

 fore known, for not until the morning of September 

 ninth did the larva make its appearance, the egg skin 

 bursting and leaving its tenant free to crawl away. In 

 93 



