WILLIAMS: LARRIDJi OF KANSAS. 187 



ous small galleries may be found, and these are frequently 

 entered and enlarged by such Larropsis as ater and brnneri. It 

 is certain that some of these holes are made by the male in- 

 sects, probably as a place of retirement during unfavorable 

 weather and at night. A black species of Tachysphex, prob- 

 ably fusus or terminatiis, was observed digging a hole in the 

 sand during the hot afternoon hours, closing its retreat from 

 within. Plenoculus apicalis and Niteliopsis affinis have much 

 the same habits as the above. 



Enemies of the LarridjE. 

 Among the enemies of the adult wasps may be mentioned : 

 Asilidse, or robber flies, which are very abundant on the Great 

 Plains, and which capture the largest Larridse ; various species 

 of ants, which, roaming everywhere, have been seen to cause 

 considerable annoyance to the wasp as she was digging, and 

 at times they took possession of her prey ; lizards are probably 

 a source of minor hazard, in that they give chase to the wasp 

 while dragging her heavy load over the ground. Small tachina 

 flies destroy large numbers of wasps by appropriating the 

 food of the hymenopteron for their own young. 



Stinging and Malaxation. 

 It would appear that the Larridse, and probably numerous 

 other wasps as well, sting their victims not primarily for the 

 purpose of giving them their quietus, so that their oifspring 

 may feed with safety thereon, but in order that the wasp her- 

 self may successfully manipulate her prey, and suffer the 

 least inconvenience, delay or injury thereby. When a little 

 Tachysphex, for example, attacks an acridian far larger than 

 herself, or the sphecid Priononyx pounces upon a large Melano- 

 plus or Mermiria, as often happens, it would seem logical that 

 in the violent struggle which ensues that the wasp seeks to 

 overcome her prospective victim as speedily as possible. The 

 more time employed in this rough occupation, the greater the 

 oppoi'tunity for the grasshopper's escape, and so the wasp en- 

 deavors to quiet it with a well-directed sting under the thorax, 

 presumably penetrating one of the large ganglia of that region. 

 Usually, if not always, one or more subsequent stings are 

 given, these, perhaps, with a view to the welfare of the young. 

 But it must be confessed that some of the entombed victims 

 may become exceedingly lively if taken out and disturbed, 

 though they seem to have lost the sense of direction and co- 



