Hypermetamorphosis 



it be equipped with legs, it will not be de- 

 prived of them later; if it be provided with 

 ocelli, it will not become blind. It is true 

 that the diet of these non-variable larvae re- 

 mains the same throughout their duration, 

 as do the conditions under which they are 

 destined to live. 



But suppose that this diet varies, that the 

 environment in which they are called upon 

 to live changes, that the circumstances ac- 

 companying their development are liable to 

 great changes: it then becomes evident that 

 the moult may and even must adapt the or- 

 ganization of the larva to these new con- 

 ditions of existence. The primary larva of 

 the Sitaris lives on the body of the Anthro- 

 phora. Its perilous peregrinations demand 

 agility of movement, long-sighted eyes and 

 masterly balancing-appliances; it has, in fact, 

 a slender shape, ocelli, legs and special organs 

 adapted to averting a fall. Once inside the 

 Bee's cell, it has to destroy the egg; its sharp 

 mandibles, curved into hooks, will fulfil this 

 office. This done, there is a change of diet: 

 after the Anthophora's egg the larva pro- 

 ceeds to consume the ration of honey. The 

 environment in which it has to live also 

 changes: instead of balancing itself on a 

 hair of the Anthophora, it has now to float 

 139 



