1977] 
Evans — Nests and Prey of Eumenid Wasps 
257 
Figure 3. Nest of Parancistrocerus vagus on mesquite, Mescalero Sands, New 
Mexico. 
provisioning the nest with small caterpillars carried in her mandi- 
bles. I captured her and excavated the nest, finding one cell with 
an egg and another with a rather large larva. Evidently the female 
had been digging the newer cell when first observed. 
The burrow proved to be vertical, 6 mm in diameter, reaching a 
depth of only 5.5 cm. The two cells diverged 4 cm down, each 
measuring 10 mm in diameter and 15 mm long (Fig. 1). The larva 
had nearly consumed all the prey in one cell, which was closed by a 
thin barrier of soil. The other cell contained 17 small, paralyzed 
caterpillars, all one species of Chionodes (Gelechiidae). The egg of 
the wasp measured 0.6 X 2.3 mm and appeared to be loose toward 
the top of the cell, although I may have dislodged it during 
digging. 
The second nest was only 7 cm away and was similar in 
dimensions except that there was only one cell. This cell had 5 
caterpillars ( Chionodes sp.) and presumable an egg, though I failed 
to find it. Caterpillars in both nests showed much movement but 
were unable to walk in a coordinated manner. Neither nest had 
any evidence of a turret at the entrance. 
