Insects : their life-histories and habits . place to form a thimble-shaped cell, which is provisionedwith honey and pollen. Thereafter the egg is laid, andthe cell is closed with a wad of leaf fragments more orless circular in outline. At least seven lozenge-shapedand four circular pieces are cut and carried by this indus-trious insect to form a single cell. A whole host of bees make no direct provision fortheir young. They are not actually parasites, but—likethe cuckoo among birds—lay their eggs in the nests ofother species. One example will suffice to make clear thenature of the relationship
Insects : their life-histories and habits . place to form a thimble-shaped cell, which is provisionedwith honey and pollen. Thereafter the egg is laid, andthe cell is closed with a wad of leaf fragments more orless circular in outline. At least seven lozenge-shapedand four circular pieces are cut and carried by this indus-trious insect to form a single cell. A whole host of bees make no direct provision fortheir young. They are not actually parasites, but—likethe cuckoo among birds—lay their eggs in the nests ofother species. One example will suffice to make clear thenature of the relationship. The leaf-cutting bee formsher cell, provisions it, and lays her egg. When she isabsent cutting the leaf fragments to cap the cell, a cuckoobee (CoeUoccys conoidea) steals into the tunnel and lays herown egg side by side with that of the owner. The usualresult is that the cuckoos grub (whose egg is the first tohatch) devours most of the food, while the leaf-cuttersgrub is starved. Some of these cuckoo grubs so far forget Platk XXXV111. Rose leaves mutilated by Leaf-cutting Beo
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectinsects, bookyear1913
