36 IV. Dwight Pierce 



black. Punctuation large., distinct, and round on head, confluent 

 on thorax, distinct and slightly longitudinal on abdomen. This 

 species comes nearest simillima Smith in the Fox table. The 

 species runs in Ashmead's Superfamily Vespoidca to the sub- 

 family Mutillinae. It probably belongs in the tribe Photopsidini 

 running to the genus Photopsis Blake. It has points in common 

 with the genus Timulla Ashmead in Mutillini, but it differs as to 

 antennal joints. 



SUMMARY 



That we may better hold in mind the results of the investi- 

 gations, a summary of the main points is herewith given : 



i. Certain ground-dwelling insects, as Epinomia, are often 

 found to dwell in individual homes, but very close to one an- 

 other. Other species of insects are also found to dwell amongst 

 these holes in holes of their own. Such a colony (sens latum) 

 we call a "community." 



2. These various insects may or may not have any relations 

 with their neighbors. Some are peaceable (Panurginus, Hal ic- 

 tus), some are predaceous (Cicindela, Ammophila). 



3. Parasites are found to live upon and in the holes of these 

 insects (Myoditcs upon Epinomia, mites in Epinomia holes). 



4. Parasites are found to live the entire cycles of their lives 

 within the bodies of certain ground-dwelling bees (Stylopids 

 upon Andrena, Panurginus, Halictus). 



5. The parasites often reach the holes of the hosts in a very 

 peculiar manner (Myodites carried by its own species). 



6. Where it is possible to oviposit in the hole of the host it is 

 found that a parasite (Myoditcs) may find it necessary to have 

 vegetable food first, and that the eggs are laid in plants (Soli- 

 dago), which the host (Epinomia) never visits (Epinomia visits 

 the common sunflower, Hclianthus annuus). 



7. In the 'case of Myoditcs solidaginis it is found that the life 

 cycle is two years, and that there are two distinct lines of descent 

 alternating in maturing. The interesting item that Myoditcs is 

 a principal carrier of the young of its species and that it is prob- 

 ably the agent of transportation to the holes is of importance. 

 It is very likely that Myoditcs bibernates in the Epinomia holes. 



188 



