Besides, she is far from being the only one to go hunting at the
expense of the snouted clan, the Weevils. Many other Cerceres,
according to their size, their strength and the accidents of the chase,
capture Weevils varying infinitely in genus, species, shape, and
dimensions. It has long been known that Cerceris arenaria feeds her
grubs on similar provisions. I myself have encountered in her lairs
Sitona lineata, S. tibialis, Cneorinus hispidus, Brachyderes gracilis,
Geonemus flabellipes and Otiorhynchus maleficus. Cerceris aurita is
known to make her booty of Otiorhynchus raucus and Phynotomus
punctatus. The larder of Cerceris Ferreri has shown me the following:
Phynotomus murinus, P. punctatus, Sitona lineata, Cneorinus hispidus,
Rhynchites betuleti. The last, who rolls vine-leaves in the shape of
cigars, is sometimes a superb steel-blue and more ordinarily shines
with a splendid golden copper. I have found as many as seven of these
brilliant insects victualling a single cell; and the gaudiness of the
little subterranean heap might almost stand comparison with the jewels
buried by the Buprestis-huntress. Other species, notably the weaker, go
in for lesser game, whose small size is atoned for by larger numbers.
Thus Cerceris quadricincta stacks quite thirty specimens of Apion
gravidum in each of her cells, without disdaining on occasion such
larger Weevils as Sitona lineata and Phynotomus murinus. A similar
provision of small species falls to the share of Cerceris labiata.
Lastly, the smallest Cerceris in my district, Cerceris Julii, [8]
chases the tiniest Weevils, Apion gravidum and Bruchus granarius,
victims proportioned to the diminutive huntress. To finish with this
list of game, let us add that a few Cerceres observe other gastronomic
laws and raise their families on Hymenoptera. One of these is Cerceris
ornata. We will dismiss these tastes as foreign to the subject in hand.
Of the eight species then of Cerceres whose provisions consist of
Beetles, seven adopt a diet of Weevils and one a diet of Buprestes. For
what singular reasons are the depredations of these Wasps confined to
such narrow limits? What are the motives for this exclusive choice?
What inward likeness can there be between the Buprestes and the
Weevils, outwardly so entirely dissimilar, that they should both become
the food of kindred carnivorous grubs? Beyond a doubt, there are
differences of flavour between this victim and that, nutritive
differences which the larvæ are well able to appreciate; but some
graver reason must overrule all such gastronomic considerations and
cause these curious predilections.
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