322 
Psyche 
[Vol. 94 
Janla, informed me that X. nitidulum is known in the Oriya lan- 
guage as “lakha bhanra” (“the lacquer bee”), and is popularly dis- 
tinguished from species building plain mud nests (“matti bhanra,” 
or “mud bees”). Some people believe that pregnant women in homes 
inhabited by “lacquer bees” are destined to give birth to boys, where- 
as “mud bees” forecast the birth of a girl. 
Summary 
The Indian eumenine wasp Xenorynchium nitidulum is at least 
sometimes “primitively social” in that more than one adult female 
participates in brood-rearing on a single nest. Examination of nest 
contents and dissection of females indicate that cells are reused and 
larvae are progressively provisioned, at least in the early larval stage. 
Females sit facing outward in uncapped cells and sting defensively 
by bringing the tip of the abdomen forward without coming out of 
the cell. The gummy coating of the outside of the thin mud cell walls 
may provide some protection against the parasitoid Stilbum cyanu- 
rum splendidum (Chrisydidae), which emerged from collected nests. 
Courtship behavior was observed in the laboratory. X. nitidulum is 
known as “the lacquer bee” in Orissa, and is popularly believed to be 
useful in predicting the sex of unborn children. 
Acknowledgments 
Fieldwork in India was made possible by a grant from the Smith- 
sonian Institution Special Foreign Currency Program. While in 
Orissa I was a guest at Utkal University. I thank my hosts, Zoology 
Department chairman Dr. B. K. Behura, and especially Dr. P. 
Mohanty-Hejmadi. Work in Janla was arranged by Dr. Mohanty- 
Hejmadi and her student, Miss K. Samantray. I am indebted to 
Miss Samantray and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Samantray 
for their hospitality in Janla and for help in locating nests. Dr. 
Sushil Dutta also kindly assisted in the field. Drs. K. V. Krombein 
and J. van der Vecht identified specimens of Hymenoptera. Voucher 
specimens are deposited in the U.S. National Museum. William G. 
Eberhard made helpful suggestions on the manuscript. 
