The Glow- Worm and Other BeetleG 



bris had to run the same risks, perhaps not 

 one larva would reach the desired goal. For 

 so strictly limited a family a safer method 

 is needed. The young larva must not get 

 itself carried to the game-basket, or more 

 probably to the honey-pot, at the risk of 

 never reaching it; it must travel on its own 

 legs. Allowing myself to be guided by the 

 logic of things, I shall therefore complete 

 the story of the Twelve-spotted Mylabris as 

 follows. 



The mother lays her eggs underground 

 near the spots frequented by the foster- 

 mothers. The recently-hatched young grubs 

 leave their lodgings in September and travel 

 within a restricted radius in search of bur- 

 rows containing food. The little creature's 

 sturdy legs allow of these underground in- 

 vestigations. The mandibles, which are just 

 as strong, necessarily play their part. The 

 parasite, on forcing its way into the food-pit, 

 finds itself faced with either the egg or the 

 young larva of the Bee. These are com- 

 petitors, whom it is important to get rid of 

 as quickly as possible. The hooks of the 

 mandibles now come into play, tearing the 

 egg or the defenceless grub. After this act 

 of brigandage, which may be compared with 

 that of the primary larva of the Sitaris rip- 

 178 



