THe HyMENopTERA OF MINNESOTA 225 
The sense of direction appears to be well developed in this group, 
for they cover their burrows so adroitly that there appears to be ab- 
solutely nothing by which the exact position of the nest can be traced. 
Yet Bembex flies to it without failing. At least one species, Bembex 
spinolae supplies flies to the growing larva during the life of the larva, 
digging away the soil from the entrance of the nest each time and 
scraping it together again when she leaves the nest. B. rostrata also 
makes frequent visits to its nest with fresh food. 
Fig. 114. Left figure Sphecius speciosus Say, carrying a Cicada to her burrow. Right 
figure, Cicada in burrow of Spheciws with full-grown larva of digger wasp feed- 
ing.—From Insect Life. 
A Tachinid fly of the genus Miltogramma lays eggs on victim 
being carried to burrow by Bembex, and its maggot later eats this 
store of provisions intended for the young Bembex larva. 
Minnesota species: (Bembidula) Bicyrtes ventralis Say (Rock Co. 
Sept.). For an account of the habits of this species see Parker, Proc. 
WaswNat Mussel 52, p. 132: et: seq. 
B. quadrifasciata Say. Ibid., B. spinolae LeP., Ibid. Microbembex 
monodonta Say. (see col. pl. 2; also Vol. 52 Proc. U. S. M., p. 134 et 
seq. ) Bembex spinolae LeP. was taken by Viereck in Sept. 1913 in 
Rock Co. 
