Chapter vi 



THE LARVA AND THE NYMPH 



The ^^g of the Yellow-winged Sphex is white, 

 elongated, cylindrical, shghtly bow-shaped and 

 measures three to four millimetres ^ in length. 

 So far from being laid anywhere on the victim, 

 at random, it is deposited on a specially 

 favoured spot, which is always the same ; in 

 short, it is placed across the Cricket's breast, 

 a httle to one side, between the first and second 

 pair of legs. The ^^^ of the White-edged Sphex 

 and that of the Languedocian Sphex occupy a 

 similar position : the first on the breast of a 

 Locust, the second on the breast of an Ephip- 

 piger.2 The point selected must present some 

 peculiarity of great importance to the young 

 larva's safety, for I have never known it to vary. 

 The egg hatches after three or four days. 

 A very delicate wrapper tears asunder ; and 

 there Hes before our eyes a feeble grub, trans- 

 parent as crystal, a little attenuated and as it 



' '117 to •156 \r\<:}a..— Translator's Note. 



2 A species of Green Grasshopper. — Translator'' s Note. 



86 



