I am struck in the first place by the sudden inertia of the antennae and the various members of the mouth; organs which continue to move for so long a time in the victims of most predatory creatures.

I see none of the indications with which my previous studies of paralysed victims have made me familiar: the antennae slowly waving, the mandibles opening and closing, the palpae trembling for days, for weeks, even for months.

The thighs tremble for a minute or two at most; and the struggle is over.
Henceforth there is complete immobility.

The significance of this sudden inertia is forced upon me: the Philanthus has stabbed the cervical ganglions.

Hence the sudden immobility of all the organs of the head: hence the real, not the apparent death of the bee.