198 



IKJURTOUS INSECTS. 



tlirust its beak into tlie flesh. The most probable origin 

 of these reports of stinging is due to the fact that a very 

 large digger wasp (Stizus grandis) provides its nest with 

 the Cicada, among other insects, as food for its young. 

 The mother wasp stings her victims sufficiently to j)ara- 

 lyze, but not to kill them, and takes them to her under- 

 ground nest. This wasp is given of the real size in 

 figure 122. It is possible that one may, in catching a 

 Cicada, get a sting from this wasp, which had already 

 captured it. 



