The Leaf-cutter therefore is able to use her scissors according to the task before her; she makes large or small pieces as they are needed.

It is hard to tell the Resin-bees’ nests, because the insect often makes its home at the very inside of the spiral, a long way from the mouth.

A Fly-hunting Wasp arrives suddenly and alights, without any hesitation, at a spot which to my eyes looks exactly like the rest of the sandy surface.

The abominable deed is done: the Mutilla’s egg has been laid in another’s cocoon, beside the slumbering grub or larva on which it will feed.

If the corpse were left undisturbed, it would dry up and take a long while to disappear.

“When winter is near they will build a stronger tent.”

The Caterpillars come out of their eggs in about a week, and the first thing they do is to eat the egg-shells, or egg-wrappers, before tackling the green leaves

The Great Peacock knows nothing of eating.

The Beetle in this house is clutching a small mushroom, usually partly eaten.

“The idea of wasting one’s time with that nonsense!” he would have thundered.

The net needs to be firm to hold the heavy insects that light on it.

The most powerful Spider in my neighborhood, the Black-bellied Tarantula, will presently show us what her poison can do.

The shells hung up are most often empty; but there are also some occupied by the Snail, alive and untouched.

Only the old Spiders, meditating or dozing in their green tent, are warned from afar, by telegraph, of what takes place on the net.

This slaughter of the Bee engaged in the hallowed delights of labour has always revolted me.

Skillful in the prompt despatch of her prey, the little Crab-spider is no less clever in the nesting art.

The rigging-builder, therefore, to whom we have just thrown a Locust attacks the prey at the lower end of a thigh.

Certain Bird Spiders, or American Tarantulas, live in a burrow like the Tarantula I have been telling you about, but their burrow is more perfect than hers.

All curves are banished from the Spiders’ work; nothing is used but the straight line and its combinations.

The logarithmic spiral describes an endless number of circuits around its pole, to which it constantly draws nearer without ever being able to reach it.