J08 MEMOmS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM. 



the day this iieotar dries up aud the tiowers consequently lose most uf their 

 attractive power. My experience is that one hour's collecting in the early part 

 of the day is more productive than that of two hours in the afternoon. 



NOTES ON NESTS OF MONEREBIA EPHIPPIUM, Fabr.i 



A tine nest of tliis wasp was found at Suiaiybaiik on July 13th, attached to 

 the inside of a hollow log lying on the ground. It was about seven inches long, 

 four inches wide, and contained ten cells. The cells were made of sand mixed 

 with clay, and were arranged alternately in two rows. The walls of the cells 

 were very thick, and the entire nest had such a massive appearance that it was 

 hard to believe it to be the work of a single wasp. In this particiilar nest the 

 usual funnel-shaped entrance had been broken, only a small portio.'i being left 

 attached to the nest. On two previous occasions I have found nests of this wasp, 

 and each was furnished with a funnel-shaped entrance. 



Six of the cells contained full-grown living larva>. The interior of these 

 cells was beautifully' smooth, and was lined with a thin silken membrane 

 resembling tissue paper. The outer side of the nest was of clay which had been 

 jilastered smooth, so that it had a shiny or greasy appearance. The clean, smooth 

 appearance of the interior of these cells made one wonder what had become of the 

 excreta and debris of food. On further examination it was found that nt the end 

 of each cell, outside the silk lining, between that lining and the wall of the cell, 

 there was a cavity into which the larvte had closely packed all excreta and debris. 



Two of the cells were found to be full of dead caterpillars (all consisting 

 of the same species, Ckniia ignobilis, Wlk., belonging to the family P.sychidiB), 

 empty puparia of Tachinid flies, dead Tachinid tiies, and some excreta. 



The contents of the first cell were fourteen dead larvte of iUaiiin ifinohilis, 

 nine empty jjupai'ia of Tachinid tiies, six dead Tachinid Hies, three dead Tachinid 

 flies still contained in puparia. The second of the two cells contained fifteen dead 

 larvae of Clania ignobilis, eleven dead Tachinid flies, eleven empty puparia of 

 Tai'hiiiid flies. 



Judging by the contents of these two cells, it would appear that the cater- 

 ])illars were parasitised by Tachinid flies before being i)laccd in the cells by the 

 Moncrebia. The young Monerebia larva3 had starved owing to the Tachinid 

 larvM- having consumed the most nutritious portion of the caterpillars. The 

 aiiiilt 'J'achinid flics bad died after successfully emerging from the pupal state, 

 becau.se oF tlieir inability lo leave the sealed-up cells. 



Two other Moncn Itia cells wer<! found to be occupied by living larvji^ of a 

 .smaller sjieeies of wasp, Pisun aurcoscriccnm, Rohw. Both cells had been divided 



' I have uiiecl the name Monerebia inHtenil of the better-known Abispa on the authority 

 of MeadeVViiMci (Ann. & Mag. Nut. Hia., p. -nil, 11)14). 



