InvaindoIconsultmymemoryandmynotes：mylongentomologicalcareerdoesnotfurnishmewithasolitaryexampleofsuchamisdeedasthatofaninsectleadingthelifeofaparasiteuponitsfellows。
WhentheChalicodomaoftheShedsworks，inherthousands，atherCyclopeanedifice，eachhasherownhome，asacredhomewherenotoneofthetumultuousswarm，excepttheproprietress，dreamsoftakingamouthfulofhoney。Itisasthoughtherewereaneighbourlyunderstandingtorespecttheothers’rights。Moreover，ifsomeheedlessonemistakeshercellandsomuchasalightsontherimofacupthatdoesnotbelongtoher，forthwiththeownerappears，admonishesherseverelyandsooncallshertoorder。But，ifthestoreofhoneyistheestateofsomedeceasedBee，orofsomewandererundulyprolongingherabsence，then——andthenalone——akinswomanseizesuponit。Thegoodswerewasteproperty，whichsheturnstoaccount；anditisaverypropereconomy。TheotherBeesandWaspsbehavelikewise：never，Isaynever，dowefindamongthemanidlerassiduouslyplanningtheconquestofherneighbour’spossessions。Noinsectisaparasiteonitsownspecies。
Whatthenisparasitism，ifonemustlookforitamonganimalsofdifferentraces？Lifeingeneralisbutavastbrigandage。Naturedevoursherself；matteriskeptalivebypassingfromonestomachintoanother。Atthebanquetoflife，eachisinturntheguestandthedish；theeaterofto-daybecomestheeatenoftomorrow；hodietibi，crasmihi。Everythinglivesonthatwhichlivesorhaslived；
everythingisparasitism。Manisthegreatparasite，theunbridledthiefofallthatisfittoeat。HestealsthemilkfromtheLamb，hestealsthehoneyfromthechildrenoftheBee，evenastheMelectapilfersthepottageoftheAnthophora’ssons。Thetwocasesaresimilar。Isittheviceofindolence？No，itisthefiercelawwhichforthelifeoftheoneexactsthedeathoftheother。
Inthisimplacablestruggleofdevourersanddevoured，ofpillagersandpillaged，ofrobbersandrobbed，theMelectadeservesnomorethanwethetitleofignoble；inruiningtheAnthophora，sheisbutimitatingmaninonedetail，manwhoistheinfinitesourceofdestruction。Herparasitismisnoblackerthanours：shehastofeedheroffspring；and，possessingnoharvesting-tools，ignorantbesidesoftheartofharvesting，sheusestheprovisionsofotherswhoarebetterendowedwithimplementsandtalents。Inthefierceriotofemptybellies，shedoeswhatshecanwiththegiftsatherdisposal。