The Halicti : Parthenogenesis 



from their chambers, like the first. They 

 work at their nests In the absence of any male, 

 as do also the Social Wasps, whose whole 

 brood has perished excepting a few mothers 

 also fecundated in the autumn. In both cases, 

 the assistance of the males is equally real, only 

 it has preceded the laying by about six months. 



So far, there is nothing new in the life of 

 the Halicti ; but here is where the unexpected 

 appears: in July, another generation is pro- 

 duced; and this time without males. The 

 absence of masculine assistance is no longer 

 a mere semblance here, due to an earlier fe- 

 cundation: it is a reality established beyond a 

 doubt by the continuity of my observations 

 and by my excavations during the summer 

 season, before the emergence of the new Bees. 

 At this period, a little before July, if my spade 

 unearth the cells of any one of my three Ha- 

 licti, the result Is always females, nothing but 

 females, with exceedingly rare exceptions. 



True, it may be said that the second pro- 

 geny is due to the mothers who knew the 

 males In autumn and who would be able to 

 nidify twice a year. J he suggestion Is not ad- 

 missible. The Zebra Ilallctus confirms what 

 I say. She shows us the old motiicrs no 



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