42 INSECT BEHAVIOR 



Here I witnessed a most skillful performance. Clinging to the in- 

 terior of the reed with only her two posterior claws, the wasp lowered 

 the spider very carefully and deliberately until its entire body 

 swung free in the air. Here, clasped tightly in the wasp's strong 

 mandibles, it was held by its two front legs, and rotated, so that its 

 abdomen came into the position so lately held by the cephalothorax. 

 Then walking backward up the tube the wasp succeeded in bearing 

 her victim to its last resting place. 



As I have already stated, the wasp seeks out spiders which, al- 

 though of moderate size, possess long, slender legs, and there is a sim- 

 ple significance in her choice. The wasp's nest is a hollow reed whose 

 smooth perpendicular walls end abruptly in space. Her front door 

 gapes in the void and must be approached from below. The spider's 

 body alone is considerably smaller than the diameter of the tube. 

 Thus were the wasp to choose a short-legged victim it would drop 

 from the nest at the instant of release. The long legs of her spider 

 are doubtless burdensome, yet they are a necessity to the success of 

 her work. In drawing them into the reed, their legs fold back be- 

 tween abdomen and reed, filling the intervening space so nicely that 

 the entire creature remains wherever the wasp places it. 



Four of these spiders are allotted to each of the three cells, which 

 are separated as the wasp provisions them, with plugs of clay three 

 millimeters in thickness. Upon the side of the largest spider in each 

 cell, a three-millimeter egg is deposited. It is slightly bowed, just 

 enough to fit the curve of the spider's abdomen, slightly elongated 

 at one end and about the color of skimmed milk. 



The three cells vary considerably in size. One measures three 

 inches, another two, and the third is an inch and three-quarters long. 

 For these differences I can see no reason. So long as there are three 

 cells in the tube the wasp is apparently quite satisfied to place her 

 divisions at random. 



