266 
Psyche 
[September 
Final capture of cricket (represented on Plate 22, fig. c) is tu- 
multuous and quite difficult. Not infrequently the wasp fails to 
secure its prey. She uses her mandibles and legs in grasping parts 
of the struggling cricket, very often one of the hind legs. Success 
depends mainly on the ability of the wasp to sting the cricket as 
soon and as quickly as possible. This generally prevents the cricket 
from escaping by increased struggling or from performing one of 
the following responses (see Plate 22). 
Fig. h. Entering a burrow. This does not necessarily prevent 
the cricket from being stung, but it increases the chance of escaping, 
especially if the burrow is very narrow. The first sting, which 
results in paralysis of the jumping legs, is often crucial because after 
that, the wasp is generally able to drag the cricket out of the 
burrow and to give the additional three stings (Steiner, 1962). 
Fig. i. Kicking with jumping (hind) legs. Generally this is not 
very efficient in full hunting phase, unless the cricket disappears 
quickly, which is generally not the case. As a mater of fact, if the 
wasp has not been kicked away too far, she quickly comes back to 
the cricket. 
Fig. j. Autotomy of the hind leg grasped by the wasp. This 
provides a good opportunity of escape, the wasp frequently being 
kept busy with the autotomized leg in her mandibles! Observed 
frequently in captivity (Steiner, 1962), this behavior also seems 
widespread in field conditions. Several authors have reported frequent 
occurrence in nests of Liris, of paralyzed crickets deprived of one 
or two hind legs (Berland, 1925; Ferton, 1905). Accumulation of 
hind legs in some nests have even been described by Piel (1933). 
Finally, probability of capture might also be reduced if the attacked 
crickets are very large or very small and if the wasp is not in 
optimal physiological condition; this seems to be the case very early 
or very late in the reproductive season, for instance. 
Exceptional behavioral responses of prey in special hunting 
CONDITIONS (see PLATE 23). 
Basically, these exceptional responses (about a dozen in several 
hundred observed attacks) involve sudden and total immobilization 
(“freezing”) of the cricket in special hunting situations. The final 
postures are represented in Plate 23, figures d, i. 
Detection, attack and initial phase of pursuit were as usual (see 
f, g) but the cricket suddenly stopped beneath an obstacle, e.g., a 
stone (see h). As the wasp tried to catch it the prey again ran 
away, being followed by the wasp. The cricket then stopped suddenly, 
