1917] A Synopsis of EumenidcB 351 



dorsally, apical margin of second, third and fourth segments, ends of 

 femora, all of tibas and tarsi, yellow; antennae yellowish-ferruginous; 

 scape yellowish beneath; wings hyaline, brownish. Covered with very 

 fine golden pile. 



Male. — Length, 13.75 mm.; wing, 9.5 mm. Clypeus narrower. 

 Clypeus, hook of the antennae and apical margin of all segments of the 

 gaster, yellow; oblique spots on sides of the propodeum absent. 



Variations. — Margins of the tergite of the petiole do not always 

 meet ventrally and in a few specimens the ventral punctations attain the 

 margins of the tergite before the apical divergence. The apex of the 

 tergite of the second segment of the gaster is often much flattened. 

 There is considerable variation in the amount of black and the yellow 

 oblique marks on the second segment of the gaster frequently do not 

 meet on the dorsum. 



Distribution. — Specimens in the National Museum are from 

 Riley and Franklin Counties, Kansas; La Cuena, Mora Co., 

 N. M.; Huntersville, Walker Co., Victoria, Victoria Co., 

 Corpus Christi, Nueces Co., Del Rio, Valverde Co., Brewster 

 Co., Pittsburg, Camp Co., Ladonia, Fannin Co., Greenville, 

 Hunt Co., Calvert, Robinson Co., Dallas, Dallas Co., and 

 Cypress Mills, Blanco Co., Texas. These localities in Texas 

 indicate a very general distribution over the state. 



Type.— Csit. No. 1726, U. S. National Museum. 



This species is closely related to smithii, so closely that the 

 writer has not been able with all specimens, to separate the two 

 species except by color. The punctation character used in the 

 key is satisfactory with most specimens, but because of a few 

 exceptions is not entirely dependable. 



Hartman has given a detailed description of the building of 

 two nests by wasps of this species, which as far as the writer 

 is aware is the only account of actual nest building of any 

 American Eumenes. A few points in his account may be 

 summarized as follows: The nests were typical jug-shaped 

 earthen cells, attached singly to culms of Bermuda grass. 

 Earth for building material. was secured from a hard clod, or a 

 hardened place in a path, and was moistened by water carried 

 in the crop. The work of building was done with the mandibles 

 and forefeet. After the base was made, a pellet of earth was 

 spread out as a ribbon around the edge of the nest and then 

 pulled thin to the normal thickness. Oviposition occurred 

 before storing the nest. Geometrid caterpillars were used as 

 food for the wasp grubs. 



