The Primary Larva of the Sitares 



not stir from the spot. Henceforth its de- 

 velopment takes place unhindered, provided 

 that the cell be protected from too rapid 

 evaporation, which would dry up the honey 

 and render it unfit for the grub's food. The 

 Anthophora's egg therefore is absolutely ne- 

 cessary to the Sitaris-larva, not merely as a 

 boat, but also as its first nourishment. This 

 is the whole secret, for lack of knowing which 

 I had hitherto failed in my attempts to rear 

 the larvae hatched in my glass jars. 



At the end of a week, the egg, drained by 

 the parasite, is nothing but a dry skin. The 

 first meal is finished. The Sitaris-larva, 

 whose dimensions have almost doubled, now 

 splits open along the back; and through a 

 slit which comprises the head and the three 

 thoracic segments a white corpusculum, the 

 second form of this singular organism, es- 

 capes to fall on the surface of the honey, 

 while the aband-oned slough remains clinging 

 to the raft which has hitherto safeguarded 

 and fed the larva. Presently both sloughs, 

 those of the Sitaris and the egg, will dis- 

 appear, submerged under the waves of honey 

 which the new larva is about to raise. Here 

 ends the history of the first form adopted by 

 the Sitaris. 



81 



