A Parasite of the Maggot 



side, as long as the Flesh-fly's season lasts; 

 things are urgent; and each pigmy hurries as 

 fast as she can to take up her part as an ex- 

 terminator. 



How is the parasite's inroad into the Flesh- 

 fly's pupa; effected? Truth is always veiled 

 in a certain mystery. The good fortune that 

 secured me the ravaged pupa? taught me no- 

 thing concerning the tactics of the ravager. 

 I have never seen the Chalcidid explore the 

 contents of my appliances; my attention was 

 engaged elsewhere and nothing is so difficult 

 to see as a thing not yet suspected. But, 

 though direct observation be lacking, logic 

 will tell us approximately what we want to 

 know. 



It is evident, to begin with, that the in- 

 vasion cannot have been made through the 

 sturdy amour of the pupae. This is too hard 

 to be penetrated by the means at the pigmy's 

 disposal. Naught but the delicate skin of the 

 maggots lends itself to the introduction of the 

 germs. An egg-laying mother, therefore, ap- 

 pears, inspects the surface of the pool of 

 sanies swarming with grubs, selects the one 

 that suits her and perches on it; then, with the 

 tip of her pointed abdomen, whence emerges, 

 for an instant, a short probe kept hidden until 



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