The Primary Larva of the Sitares 



Yet, to obtain light upon the question 

 which brings me hither, I must needs pene- 

 trate the fearsome swarm; I must stand for 

 whole hours, perhaps all day, watching the 

 works which I intend to upset; lens in hand, 

 I must scrutinize, unmoved amid the whirl, 

 the things that are happening in the cells. 

 The use moreover of a mask, of gloves, of 

 a covering of any kind is impracticable, for 

 utter dexterity of the fingers and complete 

 liberty of sight are essential to the investiga- 

 tions which I have to make. No matter: 

 even though I leave this wasps'-nest with a 

 face swollen beyond recognition, I must to- 

 day obtain a decisive solution of the problem 

 which has preoccupied me too long. 



A few strokes of the net, aimed, beyond 

 the limits of the swarm, at the Anthophorae 

 on their way to the harvest or returning, 

 soon informed me that the Sitaris-larvae are 

 perched on the thorax, as I expected, occu- 

 pying the same position as on the males. 

 The circumstances therefore could not be 

 more favourable. We will inspect the cells 

 without further delay. 



My preparations are made at once: I but- 

 ton my clothes tightly, so as to afford the 

 Bees the least possible opportunity, and I en- 

 ter the heart of the swarm. A few blows of 

 69 



