CHAPTER XIII 



INSECT AND OTHER STRATEGISTS 



INSECTS, like all other creatures of this earth, from sponges to 

 man, must partake of food, for without it there would be no life. 

 It is a simple thing to say, but for some insects of the lower 

 orders, to procure their proper nourishing food would be quite 

 a different affair, were they not carefully assisted by that almost in- 

 tangible thing called instinct, taught in the school of nature. To be 

 sure there are many of the higher insects, as the bees, ants and wasps, 

 who are fortunate in possessing the power of rapid motion, unfailing 

 protection and well-developed senses, and who would seldom be 

 hampered in the quest of food, but how would the lower orders of 

 insects fare, were it not for the marvelous stratagems that nature has 

 taught them? Indeed, they would not fare at all, for if they were 

 deprived of these instinctive strategic methods of obtaining their 

 daily sustenance, such insect races would soon become a thing of the 

 past. Should events of this nature come to pass, then even the bal- 

 ance of nature might be seriously affected. 



Although many cases might be shown in which insects and their 

 near relatives have been known to live by their stratagems, I shall 

 endeavor only to describe the methods employed by four of the most 

 interesting groups. 



Through the long summer days these marvelous things are fre- 

 quently before our very eyes, yet they pass unnoticed, so accustomed 

 are we to neglect that which is the subject of daily occurrence. The 

 webs of spiders for instance: What if we had never known of this 

 marvel! Would it seem any more incredible to find an animal spin- 



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