SPIDERS AND INSECTS OTHER THAN ANTS 391 



•coral sand is added to the outside. Often there are chinks in 

 the walls. Whenever the arcade warps from the support, the 

 termites construct a new floor. Any punctures that occur in 

 the wall are repaired, from the inside, by anal secretion added 

 drop by drop. 



C. H. Turner (59) has noticed an American Ammophila stock 

 its nest with subterranean caterpillars. That European Ammo- 

 philas stock their nests with subterranean caterpillars has long 

 been known ; but it is thought that this is the first time such a 

 habit has been recorded of any of our American species. 



E. Roubaud (49) has had the unusual opportunity of observ- 

 ing, within a single genus, various stages in the evolution of 

 an instinct. The Synagris are a genus of Eumenidae living in 

 the Congo region. 5. calida L. constructs a nest of several 

 mud cells, stocks the cells with caterpillars, lays an egg in each, 

 seals the cells and takes no further notice of them. 5. siche- 

 liana Sauss. lays an egg in each of several mud cells, places in 

 each enough caterpillars to last the larva a little more than one 

 day, and replenishes the store daily. 5. cornuta L., when she 

 has completed one cell, lays an egg in it ; but does not stock it 

 with caterpillars. When the larva has hatched, it is fed by the 

 female wasp until it is a full grown larva. Then the mother 

 seals the cell and proceeds to construct another. 



FIGHTING AND FOOD-PROCURING INSTINCTS 



According to the Severins (53), Belostoma is carnivorous. It 

 captures its prey with its front legs and holds it with them 

 until the juices have been sucked from the body. It feeds on 

 back-swimmers, water-boatmen, larval and nymphal dragon- 

 flies, snails, may-flies, and larvae and weaker specimens of its 

 own kind. Xepa also is carnivorous, but it never runs nor 

 swims after its prey. 



C. C. Gowdey (1) observed two specimens of Bembex tricolor 

 Dahl. carrying off an example of Tabanus seccdens Walk. 



According to R. Boyce (14), the natural food of Stegomyia 

 fasciaia is minute algae. He finds that this mosquito bites by 

 day as well as by night. 



H. M. Bower (13), while studying the early stages of Lycaena 

 lygdamus Doubleday, noted several cases of cannibalism. 



