292 The Hunting Wasps 



with her prey clasped to her belly. At that 

 instant, however short it may be, when the 

 Bembex or any other Digger has half her body 

 well within the entrance and is about to dis- 

 appear underground, the Miltogramma dashes 

 up and settles on the piece of game that pro- 

 jects a little way beyond the hinder extremity 

 of the ravisher ; and, while the Bembex is 

 delayed by the difficulty of entering, the other, 

 with unparalleled swiftness, lays an ^^g on the 

 prey, or even two or three in quick succession. 



The hesitation of the Wasp hampered by 

 her load lasts but the twinkling of an eye. No 

 matter : this is long enough for the Gnat to 

 accomplish her misdeed without allowing herself 

 to be carried beyond the threshold. How 

 smoothly her organs must work to adapt them- 

 selves to this instantaneous laying ! The Bem- 

 bex disappears, herself introducing the enemy 

 to the home ; and the Tachina goes and squats 

 in the sun, close to the burrow, to meditate 

 fresh deeds of darkness. If we wish to make 

 sure that the Fly's eggs have really been laid 

 during this rapid manoeuvre, we need only open 

 the burrow and follow the Bembex to the bottom 

 of her dwelling. The prey which we take from 

 her bears at the tip of its abdomen at least one 

 ^gg, sometimes more, according to the length 

 of the delay at the entrance. These eggs are 



