Wonders of Insect Architecture. 



Odynerus departs in search of the helpless larvae with 

 which she victuals the cell. Backwards and forwards 

 she flies, until she has collected perhaps ten or a dozen 

 larvae and stored them safely away at the bottom of 

 the shaft ; then, depositing an egg in the chamber, 

 she comes forth and at once proceeds to block up the 

 entrance. This she accomplishes by pulling down 

 the masking tower and stuffing the pellets into the 

 mouth of the shaft, finally bringing more sand grains 

 and scraping all round the edges of the opening, until 

 every external trace of it is removed. 



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