But this period of concord was of brief duration.

The bellies of the insects grew fuller: the eggs ripened in their ovaries: the time of courtship and the laying season was approaching.

Then a kind of jealous rage seized the females, although no male was present to arouse such feminine rivalry.

The swelling of the ovaries perverted my flock, and infected them with an insane desire to devour one another.

There were threats, horrid encounters, and cannibal feasts.