More Hunting Wasps 



Its origin will be explained by the method 

 which the larva follows in constructing its 

 strong-box. At the beginning, a conical bag 

 is woven of pure white silk; you might take 

 it for the initial eel-trap of the Bembeces, 

 only this bag has two openings, a very wide 

 one in front and another, very narrow one 

 at the side. Through the front opening 

 the Stizus provides itself with sand as and 

 when it spends this material on encrusting 

 the interior. This strengthens the cocoon; 

 and the cap which closes it is made next. 

 So far it is exactly hke the work of the Bem- 

 bex. We now have the worker enclosed, 

 engaged in perfecting the inner wall. For 

 these final touches a little more sand is 

 needed. It obtains it from outside by means 

 of the aperture which it has taken the pre- 

 caution of contriving in the side of its build- 

 ing, a narrow dormer-window just large 

 enough to allow its slender neck to pass. 

 When the store has been taken in, this ac- 

 cessory orifice, which is used only during the 

 last few moments, is closed with a mouthful 

 of mortar, thrust outward from within. 

 This forms the irregular nipple which pro- 

 jects from the side of the shell. 



For the present I shall not expatiate fur- 

 ther upon Stizus ruficornis, whose complete 

 164 



