
Translator’s Note
Chapter i - THE BUPRESTIS-HUNTING CERCERIS
Chapter ii - THE GREAT CERCERIS
Chapter iii - A SCIENTIFIC SLAUGHTERER
Chapter iv - THE YELLOW-WINGED SPHEX
Chapter v - THE THREE DAGGER-THRUSTS
Chapter vi - THE LARVA AND THE NYMPH
Chapter vii - ADVANCED THEORIES
Chapter viii - THE LANGUEDOCIAN SPHEX
Chapter ix - THE WISDOM OF INSTINCT
In this richly detailed study, the author invites listeners into the secret world of hunting wasps, revealing how a single observation can ignite a lifelong fascination with nature. Set against the modest backdrop of a winter evening by a warm stove, the narrative blends personal memoir with precise scientific inquiry, showing how the tiny predator’s hunt of emerald beetles sparked a cascade of discovery.
Through lyrical prose and meticulous illustration, the book follows the wasp’s relentless pursuit, its keen senses, and the elegant strategies it employs to provision its young. Readers will feel the thrill of watching a lone insect navigate a garden battlefield, gaining a fresh appreciation for the intelligence woven into even the smallest creatures. The early chapters lay a foundation of wonder that encourages anyone curious about the hidden dramas playing out beyond human sight.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (487K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United Kingdom: Hodder and Stoughton, 1916.
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
Jan 5, 2022
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1823–1915
Best known for turning close observation into vivid storytelling, this French naturalist wrote about insects with a warmth and curiosity that still feels fresh. His books helped generations of readers see the drama and intelligence in the smallest creatures.
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