FABRE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



ten eggs in each cell, so it is plain that the Cicada lays 

 between three and four hundred eggs altogether. 



This is a fine family for one insect. The numbers 

 point to some special danger that threatens the Cicada, 

 and makes it necessary to produce a great quantity of 

 grubs lest some should be destroyed. After many obser- 

 vations I have discovered what this danger is. It is 

 an extremely tiny Gnat, compared with which the 

 Cicada is a monster. 



This Gnat, like the Cicada, carries a boring-tool. It 

 is planted beneath her body, near the middle, and sticks 

 out at right angles. As fast as the Cicada lays her eggs 

 the Gnat tries to destroy them. It is a real scourge to 

 the Cicada family. It is amazing to watch her calm and 

 brazen audacity in the presence of the giant who could 

 crush her by simply stepping on her. I have seen as 

 many as three preparing to despoil one unhappy Cicada 

 at the same time, standing close behind one another. 



The Cicada has just stocked a cell with eggs, and is 

 climbing a little higher to make another cell. One of 

 the brigands runs to the spot she has just left; and here, 

 almost under the claws of the monster, as calmly and 

 fearlessly as though she were at home, the Gnat bores 

 a second hole above the Cicada's eggs, and places among 

 them an egg of her own. By the time the Cicada flies 

 away most of her cells have, in this way, received a 



[36] 



