266 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I4I 



heavily sclerotized portions in the cell. In 153 nests examined, there 

 was an average of 2.2 ±0.08 [standard error computed from cited 

 data] cockroaches per cell ; four nests contained five cockroaches 

 apiece. Of the 331 cockroaches in the nests, only 6 percent were 

 adults. Development. — Egg hatches in about 2 days ; larva feeds 

 about 4 days and pupates about 2 weeks later ; adult emerges about 

 10-12 days later. 



Podium haematogastrum Spinola 



Natural host. — Epilampra sp., Brazil, Para (Williams, 1928) : 

 The female wasp (fig. 7, B) burrows into the surface of termite 

 mounds, in banks, and in level ground. This wasp's behavior is similar 

 to that of P. flavipenne. There was an average of 1.6 cockroaches 

 (fig. 7, C) per cell in 74 nests examined. Of the 121 cockroaches col- 

 lected, 28 percent were adults. Under artificial conditions, the life 

 cycle varied from about a month to 45 days or more. 



Podium luctuosum Smith 



Natural host. — Parcoblatta virginica, female, U.S.A., New York 

 (Pate, 1949). 

 Distribution. — U.S.A.: New York to Texas (Murray, 1951). 



Podium rufipes Fabricius 



Natural hosts. — "Wood roaches," British Guiana (Howes, 1917, 

 1919) ; Brazil (Williams, 1928) : Nesting sites were clay column 

 nests on houses, sides of stumps, or forest trees ; banks ; termite 

 mound. Variable numbers of cockroaches were placed in the nests 

 with one wasp egg attached behind forecoxa of the last host. The egg 

 hatches in 2 days, the larva pupates about 2 weeks later, and the adult 

 emerges 24 days later. 



Podium sp. 



Natural host. — Epilampra conferta, Brazil (Poulton, 1917) : The 

 burrow contained several cockroaches of the same species. 



ANTS PREDACEOUS ON COCKROACHES 



A large roach endeavored to escape by crossing the main front of the 

 army. The creature made several powerful jumps, but each time it 

 touched the ground ... its legs were grasped by the fearless ants . . . 

 In the end it fell . . . and was instantly torn to bits and carried to the 

 rear . . . Another ant with the body of a wood roach was assisted by a 

 worker who held the carrier's abdomen high in the air out of the way 

 of her burden, all the way to the nest. 



Howes (1919) 



