198 KANSAS UNIVERSITY SCIENCE BULLETIN. 



cloudy day), when three of these wasps were dug out of 

 steeply inclined holes several inches in length. Two cells, 

 seemingly the terminations of separate tunnels, were brought 

 to light. The first contained four Alpha and one small wasp 

 larva; the other cell revealed at least two Alpha and five fly 

 maggots, somewhat larger than those of the common house 

 fly. These soon pupated, but never produced adults. It !s 

 not improbable that the burrows of these wasps are several- 

 celled when completed. 



Tachytes mandihularis Patton. 



This handsome species, with its decided buzz, was observed 

 but once in capturing her prey. This was in the Saline river 

 valley. The wasp was flying low over the weeds, resting now 

 and then, examining plants, scrutinizing some with more care 

 than others. Had it not been for her buzzing I would have 

 soon lo.st her in her rapid flight. She finally pounced upon an 

 immature locustid of green color, probably a species of 

 Orchelimnm. 



Young Locustidse being far less numerous than immature 

 Melanopli, Tachytes mandihularis would usually have a more 

 protracted hunt for her prey than her ally distinctus. Can the 

 more sustained flights from plant to plant in the former spe- 

 cies explain the stouter form and probably greater wing 

 power of mandihularis over distinctus'! 



The large bembecid wasp Stizus hrevipenne hunts in a man- 

 ner quite similar to mandihularis, examining the stems of 

 Helianthus, etc., as she flies and finally finds her prey, a large 

 Xiphidium. 



Tachytes ohductus Fox. 



This apparently rare little species frequented the muddy 

 sand shores of the south fork of the Solomon river, in Osborne 

 county. Here a few specimens were seen searching for im- 

 mature Tettigidse. The wasp runs over the ground at a mod- 

 erate speed, stopping rather often to clean herself (this prob- 

 ably because of the moist nature of the sand). She was seen 

 to capture her prey on two occasions. The grouse locusts were 

 very small and easily borne away on the wing. No burrows 

 could be located. 



Tachytes mcrgits, also a rare insect and of swifter move- 

 ments than her golden neighbor, had the same hunting grounds 

 and probably the same prey as ohductus, since Tettigidse ap- 

 peared to be the only suitable victims in the locality. 



