Abstract
SEEING the communication of “F. N.” on a “Carnivorous Wasp” in last week's NATURE brings to my recollection a similar observation of my own about a fortnight ago. My attention was drawn to an immense number of wasps and flies feeding together, apparently in perfect amity, at the bottom of a recently emptied sugar hogshead that was lying on its side in the sun. The amity, I may say, was not altogether perfect, as when a wasp approached a fly the latter speedily gave way. Suddenly a wasp, which was flying about in the interior of the tub, darted on an unsuspecting fly which was peacefully regaling itself with sweets, and carried it off. I managed to trace its flight to a neighbouring wall, where I saw the wasp apparently busily engaged in devouring the fly. On approaching more closely, in order to find out if I could what these unamiable proceedings were, I disturbed the wasp, which flew away with the fly still in its grasp, and this time I was unable to follow it. My impression at the time was, I remember, that the wasp wished to rob the fly of its sugar. This was the only case I noticed.
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BATES, E. Carnivorous Wasps. Nature 30, 408 (1884). https://doi.org/10.1038/030408d0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/030408d0
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