18S7.; 271 



NOTES ON SOME HABITS of SPHECODES, LATE., and NOMADA, FAB. 

 BY R. C. L. PERKINS. 



During the past summer I spent many hours in localities where 

 the genus Sphecodes is well represented, both in number of species and 

 o£ individuals, and, consequently, had excellent opportunities of study- 

 ing some of their habits. 



Towards the end of April (about a fortnight after the re-appearance 

 of Ilnlictus) the hibernated and impregnated females appear abroad, 

 and may be met with abundantly until quite the end of June ; in fact, 

 old and battered examples are still to be found when the first males 

 begin to emerge. 



These females may generally be found flying along hard-trodden 

 pathways and dry banks, especially those which are entirely, or in 

 part, denuded of grass and herbage. They appear indifferent as to 

 the nature of the soil, whether clay, sand, or gravel ; possibly, however, 

 some species are found more abundantly on one soil than on another. 

 I have found S. ferrucjinatiis, Schenck, hyalinatus, ISchenck, and 

 variegatus, Von Hag., far more abundant on clay than elsewhere. 

 They usually settle on the bare ground, particularly on light-coloured 

 stones, or often on a piece of paper, china, or any other white object, 

 on which, if not approached too closely, they may be watched basking 

 in the hottest sunshine. They run along the ground with speed, much 

 in the manner of a PompiJus ; they resemble the sand- wasps too, in 

 their habit of exploring every crack and inequality they meet with, 

 and this habit is more especially marked in some of the smaller species 

 of the genus. I should doubt if they ever go far from their breeding- 

 place, but fly up and down just above the surface of the ground in its 

 immediate vicinity. 



Of the very numerous spots in which I have observed them breed- 

 ing, nearly all have been occupied also by a colony of some species of 

 Salictus ; and, what is still more suggestive, where the larger s])ecies 

 of Sphecodes breed, there will be found a colony of one of the larger 

 Salicti, and the smaller species of the one genus will be found with 

 the smaller species of the other. Tor instance, I take S. gibbus, Linn., 

 amongst H. rubicundus, Christ, and S. subqicadratus, Smith, with the 

 same species ; ^S. dimidiatus, Von Hag., with H. nitidiusculus, Kirb. ; 

 S. affinis, Von Hag., with H. tumulorum, Linn. ; but I do not mean to 

 say that the above associations are universal or strictly adhered to, for 

 S. gibbus may be found with H. leucozoniiis, Schr. ; S. subquadrattis, 

 Smith, with H. cylindrictis, Fab. ; S. afinis, Von Hag., with //. 

 nitidmsculus, Kirb., and S. morio, Fab. 



