The Glow-Worm and Other Beetles 



An easy prey is this naked, plump, de- 

 fenceless grub, snoozing in the heat of a 

 blazing day. Various Gnats, of humble 

 size, but very likely terribly treacherous, 

 haunt the foliage of the asparagus. The 

 larva of the Crioceris, motionless in its 

 sphinx-like attitude, does not appear to be 

 on its guard against them, even when they 

 come buzzing above its rump. Can they be 

 as harmless as their peaceful frolics seem to 

 proclaim? It is extremely doubtful: the Fly 

 rabble are not there merely to imbibe the 

 scanty exudations of the plant. Experts in 

 mischief, they have no doubt hastened hither 

 with another object. 



And, in truth, on the greater number of 

 the Crioceris-larvae we find, adhering firmly 

 to the skin, certain white specks, very small 

 and of a china-white. Can these be the sow- 

 ing of a bandit, the spawn of a Midge? 



I collect the grubs marked with these 

 white specks and rear them in captivity. A 

 month later, about the middle of June, they 

 shrivel, wrinkle and turn brown. All that 

 is left of them is a dry skin which tears from 

 end to end, half uncovering a Fly-pupa. A 

 few days later, the parasite emerges. 



It is a small, greyish Fly, fiercely bristling 

 with sparse hairs, half the size of the House- 

 420 



