44 WASP STUDIES AFIELD 



Sphecius speciosus 11 Drury [S. A. Rohwer]. 



Three individuals of this species, in company with Dip- 

 tera and a Papilio butterfly, were busily feeding upon a mass 

 of foamy sap that exuded from a wound near the base of a 

 huge sun-flower stalk. They were determined to get the 

 sap, and when we attempted to take them they expressed 

 their indignation at being disturbed by the loudest noise that 

 we have ever heard a wasp make. They buzzed and flew 

 about, and always made attempts to return to their bac- 

 chanal. The sap seemed to have fermented in the summer 

 heat, so perhaps like ensilage it was particularly exciting 

 to animal appetites. 



The next day we again found these S. speciosus attracted 

 to the sap, greedily drinking their fill, and- boisterously buzz- 

 ing, bumping and whirling around at intervals. Now they 

 had for their companions several horse-flies, Tabanus exul 

 O. S. [F. Knab], many smaller Diptera, one click-beetle, 

 Ludius attenuatus [J. A. Hyslop], a half-dozen Polistes 

 annularis, one spotted cucumber beetle and one blue Papilio. 

 Hence it seems that their pulque was popular in insect 

 society. 



Hungerford and Williams 12 found that this wasp quar- 

 reled with Chlorion caeruleuni for the sap oozing from the 

 willows. Riley 13 has worked up a- beautiful account of the 

 behavior of this species, a popular version of which may 

 be found in Howard's Insect Book, pp. 22-25, or Weed's 

 Life Histories of American Insects, pp. 157-160. 



11 Of the sub-family Stizinae. 



12 Ent. News 23: 246. 1912. 



13 Insect Life 4: 248-252. 1892. 



