The Poison of the Bee 



The local effect is diffused. This diffusion, 

 which might well take place in the victims of 

 the predatory insects, plays no part in the 

 latter's method of operation. The egg, which 

 will be laid Immediately afterwards, demands 

 the complete Inertia of the prey from the out- 

 set. Hence all the nerve-centres that govern 

 locomotion must be numbed instantaneously 

 by the virus. 



I can now understand why the poison of 

 the predatory Wasps is comparatively pain- 

 less in its effects. If it possessed the strength 

 of that of the Bee, a single stab would im- 

 pair the vitality of the prey, while leaving It 

 for some days capable of violent movements 

 that would be very dangerous to the huntress 

 and especially to the egg. More moderate 

 in its action, It Is Instilled at the different 

 nervous centres, as is the case more particu- 

 larly with the Caterpillars.^ In this way, 

 the requisite Immobility is obtained at once; 

 and, notwithstanding the number of wounds, 

 the victim is not a speedy corpse. To the 

 marvels of the paralysers' talent we must add 



'Caterpillars are the prey of the Ammophila-wasp, 

 who administers a separate stab to each of the several 

 ganglia. — Translator's Note. 



347 



