173 
wood and is stouter and stronger than that of its social relative 
S. depressigaster. 
At first each cell is unembellished cylindrical, but eventually 
several longitudinal ridges or ribs are added, being made confluent 
with those of the cell above it. The egg is laid in the bottom of 
the cell, and it is probable that the grub is fed much as in the 
preceding species. 
The life-cycle is not very brief, if we base it on the two follow- 
ing observations: July 17 the first cell contained an egg or 
young larva; August 2 or 3 this cell was sealed by the mother; 
July 19 the second cell contained a larva, but was not closed 
until August 16 or 17. However, as these were the only cells 
closed, and as both produced an ichneumonid parasite September 
4 and 8, the growth of the Stenogaster may have been retarded, 
or perhaps the wasp had been feeding the parasite itself for some 
time! 
The Stenogaster was a decidedly timid insect and difficult to 
perceive in the semi-gloom of her environs. She was away from 
her nest much of the time, and when at home was sometimes 
seen examining her cells, but more frequently resting along the 
middle of the nest, buzzing her wings once in a w hile and thus 
causing the lightly-hung structure to sway as in a gentle breeze. 
Stenogaster micans (Saussure) var. luzonensis Rohwer. 
Length 21 mm.; black, with yellow markings, wings pale smoky. 
The males of this rather large and graceful wasp, having much 
time at their disposal, are not infrequently seen in the lower 
Makiling forest, where they disport themselves at certain spots 
along the paths and glades. It is otherwise with the female, 
(Fig. 104). EGusehold duties seem always to keep her occupied 
and make her habitat a less conspicuous one. 
Although my observations on this insect are very incomplete, 
I can safely say that it is solitary in habits. The frail and exqui- 
site nest (Fig. 105) is a pear-shaped structure suspended at its 
globular end to a fern, horsehair fungus, etc., sheltered by an 
overhanging and often inaccessible part of a bank, or even under 
an imperfect cover of dead leaves or other forest trash, supported 
by twigs, vines, etc. The nest is made of moist and well-decayed 
wood chewed into a pulp and formed into a delicate paper which 
is not rainproof. The architect, then, is occasionally found about 
the decayed trunks of trees, patronizing her specially selected 
log for many days at a time. She is a cautious insect and, 
flying from her partially-built domicile to near the trunk, ap- 
