86 WASP STUDIES AFIELD 



Pseudagenia mellipes Say. [S. A. Rohwer]. 



We have recorded and illustrated the fact that P. mellipes 

 emerges from cells made in the walls of the mud nest of 

 Sceliphron** The figure here reproduced (fig. 18) shows 

 the nest of the mud-dauber with two hilly protrusions which 

 were cut down to show the cells that contained the pupal 



FIG. 18. Two protuberances on the nest of Sceliphron which gave 

 forth adults of Pseudagenia mellipes. Natural size. 



cases of P. mellipes. Elsewhere on the nest, mandible marks 

 were in evidence, so we suspect that mellipes dug out a small 

 cavity and then carried mud bitten from other parts of the 

 nest and built up and around it until the cell was completely 

 enclosed and hidden from view. 



This, we find, is not the only method of nidification of 

 this species. At Moselle, Missouri, on June 30, 1916, while 

 breaking away some loose bark from a fallen tree, we found 

 a little three-celled nest, very beautifully constructed, which 

 we carefully guarded since we expected some species of 

 Agenia to emerge therefrom. We were surprised when on 

 July 8 and 1 1 two adults of P. mellipes emerged. The nest 

 did not adhere to the wood, but lay loosely under the bark. 

 The accompanying figure (fig. 19) shows this nest and also 

 the builder (exact size). 



14 Journ. Animal Behavior 6: 27-63. 1916. 



