Hypermetamorphosis 



It is in the first half of July that the Sitaris- 

 grubs reach their full dimensions. At this 

 period the cell usurped by the parasite con- 

 tains nothing beyond a full-fed larva and, 

 in a corner, a heap of reddish droppings. 

 This larva is soft and white, about half an 

 inch in length and a quarter of an inch wide 

 at its broadest part. Seen from above as it 

 floats on the honey, it is elliptical in form, 

 tapering gradually towards the front and 

 more suddenly towards the rear. Its ventral 

 surface is highly convex; its dorsal surface, 

 on the contrary, is almost flat. When the 

 larva is floating on the liquid honey, it is as 

 it were steadied by the excessive development 

 of the ventral surface immersed in the honey, 

 which enables it to acquire an equilibrium 

 that is of the greatest importance to its wel- 

 fare. In fact, the breathing-holes, arranged 

 without means of protection on either edge 

 of the almost flat back, are level with the 

 viscous liquid and would be choked by that 

 sticky glue at the least false movement, if a 

 suitably ballasted hold did not prevent the 

 larva from heeling over. Never was corpu- 

 lent abdomen of greater use : thanks to this 

 plumpness of the belly the larva is protected 

 from asphyxia. 



Its segments number thirteen, including 



