The Yellow-winged Sphex 59 



pendent in their action that paralysis of one is 

 not necessarily followed by paralysis of the 

 others ? These questions will be answered by 

 the story of a Cricket-huntress, the Yellow- 

 winged Sphex {Sphex flavipennis). 



It is at the end of July that the Yellow- 

 winged Sphex tears the cocoon that has pro- 

 tected her until then and flies out of her sub- 

 terranean cradle. During the whole of August 

 she is frequently seen flitting, in search of some 

 drop of honey, around the spiked heads of the 

 field eryngo, the commonest of the hardy plants 

 that brave the heat of the dog-days in this 

 month. But this careless life does not last 

 long, for by the beginning of September the 

 Sphex is at her arduous task as a sapper and 

 huntress. She generally selects some small 

 plateau, on the high banks by the side of the 

 roads, wherein to establish her home, provided 

 that she find two indispensable things there : 

 a sandy soil, easy to dig ; and sunshine. No 

 other precaution is taken to protect the dwelling 

 against the autumn rains or winter frosts. A 

 horizontal site, unprotected, lashed by the 

 rain and the winds, suits her perfectly, on 

 condition, however, that it is exposed to the 

 sun. And, when a heavy shower comes in the 

 middle of her mining, it is pitiful next day 

 to see the half-built galleries in ruins, choked 



