208 WASP STUDIES AFIELD 



into the air, where it made a little puff of dust as it blew 

 away in the breeze. 



She digs her hole straight down for an inch or an inch and 

 a half, then fashions an oval, horizontal pocket or chamber 

 about three-fourths inch long and one-half inch high (fig. 

 45). She works without either haste or hesitation, but with 

 precision. When at length thfc last mouthful of dirt has been 

 carried out and she feels that the burrow is ready for use, 

 she comes out and hunts for a little clod. She usually finds 

 something suitable within a few inches of the hole, but she 

 is very exacting in her selection and will not be satisfied 

 with anything which falls short of her specified require- 

 ments, even though she must seek for some time. This 

 clod must be just large enough barely to cover the mouth of 



FIG. 45. The burrows of Sphex pictipennis. Natural size. 



the hole, or to fit into it like a plug, but it must not fall into 

 the burrow. We have seen her use a bit of stem of just the 

 right size. This she places carefully over the entrance, to 

 close it to intruders during her absence. Sometimes she 

 throws one or two kicks of loose dirt over and around the 

 spot, more completely to disguise the place. Then she goes 

 off on the wing in low flight over the grass and weeds in 

 quest of prey. 



