100 
THE PERIODICAL CICADA. 
of the Cicada, and their operations are often witnessed and are com- 
mented upon in print nearly every season. In fact, no more curious 
and interesting illustration of the wars which take place in the insect 
world is afforded than the sight of one of these wasps seizing its victim 
and silencing and paralyzing it with a sting, which, while throwing it 
Fig. 47. — Megastizus speciosus: a, larva; 6, pupa from below; c, same, from side, natural size; e, head 
of larva; /, labium of same; g, maxilla of same — enlarged (after Riley). 
into a comatose condition from which it never recovers and suspending 
or greatly reducing its vital functions, does not actually kill it, but 
leaves it an unresisting, living prey for the delicate wasp larva. 
The fact that some tragedy is being enacted is often brought to the 
attention of the ob- 
| server by the sud- 
den cessation of the 
,, 1 j£jtim regular song note 
Hk of the unsuspecting 
Cicada. The song 
I ends in a sharp cry 
of distress, and if 
** '^:v j] one is in position to 
witness the strug- 
gle the wasp may 
be seen grasping its 
victim and endeav- 
oring to take flight, 
--.:. ...-■^SBBBHBBBBk- j? the quick thrust of 
er its sting having 
almost immediately 
quieted the Cicada. Very often in the first struggle the wasp and the 
Cicada fall to the ground together, and it is necessary for the former to 
laboriously climb the tree again, dragging the Cicada with it, in order 
to take flight from an elevated point, the Cicada being usually much 
heavier than the wasp and bearing the latter slowly to the ground as 
Fig. 48.— Larva of Me< 
astizus spinnin 
Riley). 
joon — natural si; 
