236 A COUNTRY READER. 



They always select an insect that is fat ; that 

 is, that has a good reserve of material. 



The ichneumon fly has a long ovipositor ; with 

 this it pierces the body and lays its egg. 



When the larva of the egg thus deposited 

 hatches out in the caterpillar, it begins to eat of 

 the food that it finds all around it the body of 

 the unfortunate caterpillar. 



The insect that the ichneumon fly lays its eggs 

 in is called the host, and the larva of the ichneu- 

 mon fly that lives on the host is called a parasite, 

 and a very appropriate name, for is not a parasite 

 anything that lives on the work or lives of others? 



So you see the larva of the ichneumon fly 

 lives off the store of reserve fat and material so 

 carefully stored up by the host for the needs of 

 its own life. 



Not only does the parasite feed on the body 

 of its host, but, curiously enough, it breathes by 

 means of the breathing apparatus of its host. 



But here is the marvellous wisdom of the whole 

 proceeding. 



If the larva of the parasite attacked any vital 

 organ of the host, the host would die and its 

 body would decay, and so the parasite would not 

 have sufficient fresh food to support its life till 

 the time when the parasite turns into the pupa 

 condition. 



Now, is not that really wonderful ? an insect 



