238 kansas university science bulletin. 



Review of Literature. 



The habits of the Eumenidse vary widely. Even after my 

 summer's study on the Biological Survey, I had no conception 

 of the extent of variation, for previous to that summer I had 

 made no study of the group either by reading or otherwise. 

 After returning, a review of the available literature on the 

 subject greatly widened my view and cast light on many de- 

 tails that I had entirely overlooked. Therefore, before be- 

 ginning an account of my limited observations of a single sum- 

 mer I shall briefly summarize the work of others fi'om various 

 parts of the world, paying special attention to American ob- 

 servers. 



De Saussure^ says that the members of the genus Zethiis 

 by their habits seem to establish a "lien" between the 

 Odynerinje and the social wasps. He writes : "Certain species 

 (of Zethus) manifest a tendency toward social habits. They 

 form small agglomerations of nests, which resemble a little 

 the irregular nests of bumblebees, but grouped yet more con- 

 fusedly. But there always prevails this difference between 

 cells formed by the social and those made by the solitary Hy- 

 menoptera, that the first have a cylindrical inner space, while 

 the seco'nd are rather extended masses which are not in regu- 

 lar juxtaposition, so that they seem to be more like spheres 

 and ellipsoids joined together than cells constructed side by 

 side on a general plan. In other words, the solitary never 

 seek to form a comb, although they sometimes form an ag- 

 glomeration of cells." 



In the genera Zethus and Eumenes, according to Ashmead,^ 

 are potters. They build globular cells of clay and mud, which 

 are attached by a pedicel to a twig. The cell of E. fraternus is 

 usually attached beneath the large leaves of the scrub pal- 

 metto. According to Doctor Harris, it feeds upon canker- 

 worms in Massachusetts. In Florida it feeds on other small 

 caterpillars. From these cells, in Florida, were bred Phippi- 

 phorus dimidiatus. 



An instructive summary of the habits of a number of eu- 

 menids is given by Sharp.'' His account of nestmg habits of 

 Eumenes is as follows . 



1. Syn. Am. Wasp Sol., pp. 13-14. 



2. Psyche, May, 1894. pp. 76 78 



3. Sharp; Cambridge Nat. Hist., vol VJ pp. 71; 78. 



