1 1 2 The Hwitmg Wasps 



to cause him to be selected as a prey by a near 

 cousin of our Sphex-wasps ? It is quite simple : 

 with his Bug shape, the Kakerlak also is an 

 Orthopteron, just as much as the Cricket, the 

 Ephippiger or the Locust. From these six 

 examples, the only ones known to me and of 

 such different origins, we might perhaps deduce 

 that all the Sphex hunt Orthoptera. At any 

 rate, without adopting so general a conclusion, 

 we see what the food of their larvae must be in 

 most cases. 



There is a reason for this surprising choice. 

 What is it ? What are the grounds for a diet 

 which, within the strict limits of one entomo- 

 logical order, is composed here of stinking 

 Kakerlaks, there of somewhat dry, but highly- 

 flavoured Locusts, elsewhere again of plump 

 Crickets or fat Ephippigers ? I confess that 

 I cannot tell, that I am absolutely in the dark ; 

 and I leave the problem to others. At the 

 same time, we may observe that the Orthop- 

 tera are among insects what the Ruminants 

 are among mammals. Endowed with a mighty 

 paunch and a placid temperament, they graze 

 contentedly and soon put on flesh. They are 

 numerous, widely distributed and slow in move- 

 ment, which renders them easy to catch ; more- 

 over, they are of a large size, making fine heads 

 of game. Who can say if the Sphex-wasps, 



