More Hunting Wasps 



she was born ; here is what her family wants. 

 Moreover, there is nothing to arouse her 

 suspicions: the outside of the home has not 

 changed its appearance in any respect; the 

 stopper of gravel and green putty, which 

 later will form a violent contrast with its 

 white front, is not yet constructed. She goes 

 in and sees a heap of honey. To her think- 

 ing this can be nothing but the Chalicodoma's 

 portion. We ourselves would be beguiled, 

 in the Osmia's absence. She lays her eggs 

 in this deceptive cell. 



Her mistake, which is easy to understand, 

 does not in any way detract from her great 

 talents as a parasite, but it is a serious mat- 

 ter for the future larva. The Osmia, in 

 fact, in view of her small dimensions, collects 

 but a very scanty store of food : a little loaf 

 of pollen and honey, hardly the size of an 

 average pea. Such a ration is insufficient 

 for the Dioxys. I have described her as a 

 waster of food when her larva is established, 

 according to custom, in the cell of the Ma- 

 son-bee. This description no longer applies; 

 not in the very least. Inadvertently stray- 

 ing to the Osmia's table, the larva has no ex- 

 cuse for turning up its nose ; it does not leave 

 part of the food to go bad; it eats, up the 

 lot without having had enough. 

 236 



