Dec.,i902.j Banks: Sleeping Habits of Hymenoptera. 211 



slept upon the grass-heads, but usually about one third the way to the 

 ground. No particular direction was observed. Occasionally there 

 was some variation, but not very prominent. Several times I observed 

 an A. pictipciinis, with the hind pair of legs extended backward. The 

 position of the antenncE varied, but was usually as figured, one on each 

 side of the stem. In no case did I find more than one specimen 

 attached to the same grass-stem. 



The two species of bees {Epcolus and Afe/issodes) bit into the grass- 

 stem in the same way as the Aiiiinophila, and all six legs clasped the 

 stem, so that the head was up and the body close to the stem. In one 

 case a Melissodes utilized a grass-leaf instead of a stem, doing so for 

 several nights in succession. Only a few specimens were seen each 

 night, and several were taken for identification. The abdomen of 

 these bees pulsates in the same way as that of the Ammophila, until 

 they are asleep. 



The sleeping specimens of Myzine sexcincta were all males. Each 

 was attached to the stem of a wild onion plant close to the seed-head ; 

 the venter upward, and the legs clasping the seed-head. The body 

 was nearly horizontal, and the wings folded close to the abdomen. 

 In one case a Myzine used an orchard grass head instead of wild onion. 

 They were more shy than the other Hymenoptera, and it was several 

 nights before I succeeded in taking one. 



Why this particular set of Hymenoptera should select this patch of 

 grass for their sleeping quarters is not evident to me. The patch in 

 question was of about loo square yards, irregular in outline, and traversed 

 by a narrow path. There were very few flowers in the grass-patch ; 

 the grass was chiefly of two kinds, timothy and orchard, with plenty of 

 wild onion intermixed. Beyond the fence was a field of rye which 

 had been cut about a week before I had noticed the sleeping aculeates. 

 Perhaps they had slept in the rye before it was cut. Near my yard on 

 the other side were two large gardens. In view of what Professor and 

 Mrs. Peckham have discovered regarding the habits of Ammophila in 

 a bean patch, it may be that these wasps were busy during the day in 

 the adjoining gardens and repaired at night to this patch of grass to 

 rest and dream of big caterpillars. I examined many fields in the 

 vicinity where there were splendid places for sleeping, but the wasps 

 did not use them. I can only conjecture that one wasp, choosing its 

 sleeping quarters, is observed and followed by others, until a, certain 

 place obtains a reputation for hospitality and seclusion. It will be 



