1910] Proceedings. 119 



parently indicate that a general difference does exist between the 

 nests of various groups. 



Beginning with Animophifa Dr. Barth described on an ascending 

 scale the manner of building the nests, the nest itself, the prey, etc. 

 of the most important wasps. 



Ammophila builds a very simple nest, consisting of a round gal- 

 lery, extending into the ground, either straight or slightly inclined, to 

 a depth of about 1 to iy 2 inches, and ends in a large, usually oval, 

 chamber in which the prey is stored. 



The nests of iimaria and abbreviata differ in size only. The wasps 

 collect caterpillars as prey for the young - . The g - allery is then closed 

 some distance from the opening, by a well-fitting stone, and the re- 

 mainder filled in with debris and sand. 



The Larridcc build a nest very similar to that of Ammophila, except 

 that the gallery is usually at a considerable slant, and varies in depth 

 according to the hardness of the ground. The prey consists of grass- 

 hoppers. Both the above nests are of one cell. 



Pompilus builds a nest very similar to the above, but the gallery 

 varies very materially with the species which is engaged in building. 

 In some it is one inch in length, in some it is fully six inches long, in 

 both ending in an oval cell. The prey is usually one spider, and the 

 egg is laid on the abdomen, longitudinally to its axis, or transversely. 



Gorytes : A long - channel is made by the wasp, usually somewhat 

 curved in construction, with the sides smoothed and round, and the 

 end of the gallery formed into the first cell. It is closed up and a 

 second cell started. The wasp thus continues until it has from three 

 to four cells, when the nest is completely filled in and finished. 24 

 nests examined contained leaf-hoppers exclusively, in both the larval 

 and imago stages. 



Philanthidw and Cerceris : These wasps build complicated, curved 

 nests. That of Philanthits is characterized by the very coarse, irregular 

 gallery, the sides of which are not smoothed, and penetrates to a 

 great depth in a very tortuous manner, one nest measured being 22 

 inches in length. Cerceris is more careful in its building, the gallery 

 being less irregular or tortuous, the depth not so great. Both carry 

 in bees as prey, usually Halictus. 



Aphilanthops : Nests similar to Philanthus. Prey queen ants 

 exclusively. Dr. Barth called attention to our lack of knowledge as to 

 the mode in which this wasp captures the queen ants, and referred to a 

 recent article saying that the wasp went to the nest for the queens. 



