PSYCHE. 



THE EIABITS OF THE ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA.— IV. 



BY WILLIAM H. ASHMEAD, WASHINGTON-, D. C. 



The species in the genus Pompiliis Family XV. Vespidae. Packard 

 Fabr., judging from the records, seem to calls this family ''one of the higher 

 have a diversity of haliits. According families" and includes in it, as sub- 

 to VVestwood, Pompiliis niger Y-Ahx. families, the Masaridae and Eumenidae, 

 in England provisions its cells with placing it near the head of the Aculeata, 

 small Lepidopterous larvae; Pompiliis next to the true bees, Anthophila. 

 fumifennis Zett. with ants, while This position I consider very unnat- 

 Pompiliis petiolatiis preys upon ural, as in structure and halnts the 

 spiders. Now no doubt this diversity species comprising it are totally dif- 

 of habits will be fouiul correlated by ferent from the true bees. The prono- 

 structinal differences, which should turn extends back to the tegidae as in 

 be used in separating this extensive the Pompilidae, Sapygidae, Tliynnidae, 

 genus into subgenera. In our fauna, Scoliidae and Mutillidae, and they agree 

 most of our species in this genus, or at with these families in structure, as welt 

 least those whose habits are known, as with the fossorial wasjDS (except the 

 feed upon spiders. parasite families) in habits. Thev are 



Mr. D. W. Coquillett has observed strictly predaceous wa.sps, insectivorous, 



in the West Pompiliis tenebrosus and have no relation whatever with 



dragging oft S dift'erent spiders with the true bees. 



which to store its cells. Mr. Theo. Vespa and Polistes feed their yoinig 



Pergande tells me he has observed upon the "chewed uo fragments of 



several ditlerent species belonging to Lepidopterous and other insects," while 



the genus Pompilus, in District of the Eumenitlae build mud or clay cells 



Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and which they fill with dead or paralvzed 



Missouri, carrying oft" spiders, while I Lepidopterous and Coleopterous larvae 



have observed the same thing in and possibly other insects, just as do 



Florida. the Pompilidae. 



Family XIV. Masaridae. Noth- The fact that some of them have three 



ing positively seems to be known sexes should have no weight against 



respecting the habits of the few genera stiucture and habits, and it should 



and species comprising this family. not influence us in assigning the family 



All our species are rare and occur in its natiual position, which is, in my 



the \Vestern States. opinion, next to the familv Pompilidae. 



