PSYCHE - 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF TRYPOXYLLON RUBROCINCTUM 

 AND TRYPOXYLLON ALBOPILOSUW. 



BY GEORGE W. PECKIIAM AND ELIZABETH G. PECKIIAM, MILWAUKEE, WISC. 



When we went ont to onr sumnicr tliey could piep;iie a nest, store it with 



cottage, in the last days of June, we spiders and seal it up, all in the same 



founil many little wasps of the species day. This we have seen them do in 



Trvpoxyllon rithrociiicti(m busily several instances. In other cases the 



working about a biick smoke-house on same operation takes three or four 



the place. Closer examination showed days. 



that in the mortar between the bricks With both species, when the prelimi- 



were many little openings leading back narv work of cleaning the nest and 



for a considerable distance, which were erecting the inner partition has been 



occupied by the wasps. It would seem performed by the female, the male 



that these holes were excavated bv some takes up his station inside tlie cell fac- 



other agency than the wasps themselves ing outvvartl, his little head just filling 



as they were so much too deep for their the opening. Here he stands on guard 



purposes that before using them they for the greater part of the time until 



built a mud partition across the open- the nest is provisioned and sealed up, 



iiig about an inch from the outside of occasionally vaiying the monotony of 



the wall. Later on we found nests of his task by a short fligiit. As a usual 



the same species in the posts which thing all of the work is perfoimed by 



support an upper balcony of the cottage, the female, who applies herself to her 



and here, too, the wasps made use of duties with greater or with less industry 



holes which were already excavated. according to her individual character; 



We also found in these posts nests of but the male doubtless performs an im- 



Trypoxyllon albopilosiim and during portant office in procecting the nest 



July and August we kept a close watch from p:nasites. We have frequently 



upon the comings and going of our little seen him drive awav the brilliant green 



neighbors. CJirysis fly which is always waiting 



They were very good-tempered little about for a chance to enter an un- 



creatures, never resenting our close guarded nest. On these occasions the 



proximity nor our interference with defence is carried on with great vigor, 



their housekeeping. By working hard the fly being pursued for some distance 



