NEST OF THE SCOLIA. 131 



Within the cell is placed the egg, and in due time the larva is 

 hatched, and feeds on the soft sweet mixture with which it is sur- 

 rounded It then changes into the pupal condition, and is remark- 

 able for being enveloped in a very thin pellicle, something like the 

 slough of a snake. Even the antennje are enveloped separately in 

 the pellicle, and the male would find great difficulty in divesting 

 itself from the membrane, were it not for the notch in the fore- 

 legs. As soon, however, as it is partially free, the insect bends 

 down its head, lodges successively each antenna in the notch, 

 closes the joint upon it, and then, by drawing the antenna 

 through the notch, strips off the pellicle with perfect ease. 



Among these insects, the females are treated much as the wives 

 of savages are treated. All the work falls to their lot, and the 

 males do nothing but amuse themselves, circling about the nests 

 in graceful undulations, while the females are hard at work, 

 digging the burrows and fetching home the food. Still, there is 

 no doubt but that this disparity is only in appearance, and that 

 the one sex feels as much enjoyment in following tlie instinct 

 which teaches her to dig, as does the other in following the 

 instinct which teaches him to fly about. 



At the right-hand side of the illustration on page 128 may 

 be seen a figure of a remarkable burrowing bee, called Scolia 

 flavifrons, a native of Europe, but not as yet proved to be 

 British. In common with other fossorial bees, this insect is 

 carnivorous in its larval state, and is supplied by its mother with 

 the creatures on which it feeds. 



Some bees feed upon larvae, others upon fVill-grown insects. 

 Some eat beetles, some devour bees, some prefer spiders, and 

 others flies, while a very great number of species are caterpillar- 

 eaters, and are in consequence extremely useful to the gardener 

 and farmer. This particular insect has a curious predilection, 

 and stocks its nest with the grub or larva of a beetle, belonging 

 to the genus Oryctes. At the bottom of the cell may be seen 

 certain grubs, the smaller of which is the larva of the Scolia, 

 and the larger that of the beetle. As may be seen from the 

 illustration, the grub of the beetle is very much larger than that 

 of the creature which feeds upon it. The species which is here 

 represented is a large and remarkably striking one, the four con- 

 spicuous spots at once distinguishing it from any other insect. 



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