104 INSECT BEHAVIOR 



The platform-building group 1 constructs large stages of silk in all 

 sorts of situations, but they are particularly fond of window-sills 

 where their huge webs are often found. At one end of the stage a 

 large silken tube is constructed in which the owner hides and from 

 which it darts, upon seeing an insect alight upon the platform. The 

 silk of these spiders is not so sticky and would seldom serve to entan- 

 gle an insect; thus it will be seen that the platform-builders construct 

 the flat white stages chiefly to attract their prey, that they may dart 

 from their hiding place, seize and devour it at leisure. 



The third and fourth groups 2 embrace some of our largest and most 

 powerful harmless spiders. These, however, do not build webs, but 

 simply move about through the grass in fields or in other places fre- 

 quented by their favorite insect food. In fact, they literally stalk 

 their game, creeping up stealthily and then springing upon it from a 

 distance of several inches. 



Occasionally these spiders will construct a flimsy silken tube under 

 a stone, but the majority dig deep burrows in the fields which they 

 inhabit and their big hairy heads may be frequently seen squinting 

 from the mouths of their subterranean homes. 



One of the most interesting cases of insect strategy is the method by 

 which the oil beetle 3 succeeds in placing its young within the nests 

 of bumble bees, upon whom they are parasitic when young. The oil 

 beetle is well named from the fact that it has the curious ability of 

 discharging a noxious oily fluid when attacked by an enemy. 



Towards the latter part of summer these big blue-bodied insects 

 may be seen clumsily walking and tumbling among the early fall 

 flowers which the bumble bees are sure to visit in their search for 

 nectar. One unfamiliar with these two insects would not suspect the 



1 Agalenidae. 



2 Drassidae and Lycosidse. 



Meloidae. 



