Choreographed by Jerome Robbins to Stravinsky's String Concerto in D, "The Cage" concerns the way some female insects devour males after mating.

Al Mut'am rose to tear up the pact hanging on the wall of the Ka'bah only to find that insects had already devoured most of it except the opening words "In the name of God."

Other insects, especially wasps and spiders, devour them too.

Higher carbon-dioxide concentrations stimulate the growth of weeds, and result in higher carbohydrate-to-nitrogen ratios in plants, making insects devour more plant material to get protein-building nitrogen.

Silence glanced briefly at the stunned marines watching the insects devour their own Queen, and decided explanations could wait.

On both occasions, Patricia McBride was the Novice in "The Cage," Jerome Robbins's ballet about the way certain female insects devour their mates.

But if plants are wilting, borders are full of weeds, shrubs are taking over planned spaces, hedges are hiding views and insects are devouring plants, think again.

The fact that different plants have many different defenses appears to be a major barrier to insects' attacking and devouring all hosts they might encounter.

It's sour by intent, for it was inspired by the way in which certain female insects devour males after mating.

Jerome Robbins's ballet, inspired by the way some female insects devour males after mating, received an electrifying performance with Wendy Whelan as the creature known as the Novice.