22 
Psyche 
[March 
Fig. 9. Above, larva of sphingid bearing the egg of Ammophila macra. 
Below, larva of a geometrid bearing the egg of A. azteca. These were 
extracted from nests in close proximity at Jackson Hole. 
groups, all of them diurnal leaf-feeders of about the same size (8 to 
1 8 mm, usually 12 to 16 mm). The egg is laid on the first prey in 
each nest and shows much variation with respect to the segment on 
which it is laid. Up to seven prey are provided per nest. 
Soil is carried from the burrow in flight, and the prey is carried to 
the nest in flight. 
Initial closure of the nest consists of a single object placed at the 
top of the burrow. Temporary closures after oviposition consist of a 
large object blocking the lumen of the burrow on top of which loose 
soil and smaller objects are packed, with or without “use of a tool”. 
At final closure, a “tool” is apparently always employed. 
Fragmentary data suggest the possibility that some females maintain 
storage burrows, this perhaps being correlated with maintenance of 
synchronous nests, all at about the same stage, by some females. More 
data on these and many other points are needed. 
Brief observations on one female A. macra nesting in the same area 
revealed several important differences between this species and azteca. 
References 
Adriaanse, A. 
1947. Ammophila campestris Latr. und Ammophila adriaansei Wilcke: 
ein Beitrag zur vergleichenden Verhaltensforschung. Behaviour, 
1: 1-34. 
