The Method of the Ammophilae 



ments stung twice over: at the beginning of 

 the attack and again when the Wasp returned 

 to her vanquished prey. 



The Ammophila's triumphant transports 

 beside her wounded and writhing victim are 

 also subject to exceptions. Sometimes, with- 

 out releasing its prey for a moment, the in- 

 sect proceeds from the thorax to the next 

 segments and completes its operation in a 

 single spell. The joyous entr'acte does not 

 take place; the convulsive movements of the 

 wings and the acrobatic postures are sup- 

 pressed. 



The rule is paralysis of all the segments, 

 however many, in regular order from front to 

 back, including even the anal segment if this 

 boast of legs. By a fairly frequent excep- 

 tion the last two or three segments are 

 spared. Another exception, but a very rare 

 one, of which I have observed only a single 

 instance, consists in the inversion of the dag- 

 ger-thrusts of the second act, the thrusts be- 

 ing delivered from back to front. The ca- 

 terpillar is then seized by its hinder extre- 

 mity; and the Ammophila, progressing to- 

 wards the head, stings in reverse order, pass- 

 ing from the succeeding to the preceding seg- 

 ment, including the thorax already stabbed. 



This reversal of the usual tactics I am in- 

 299 



