252 
Psyche 
[December 
Mr. Allen G. Selhime, USDA, ARS, ENT, Orlando, Florida, 
assisted with photography. 
Methods 
Field-collected adult females or late instar nymphs were utilized 
primarily. Observations were made on specimens both in the field 
and in the laboratory. Both recently captured specimens, and speci- 
mens maintained under laboratory conditions for several weeks were 
observed in the laboratory. Well-fed and starved individuals of 
each species were observed when possible. Males of several species 
were also observed. 
Burrowing arenas consisted of well-tamped 5 to 15 cm depths of 
a two to one mixture of sand and clay in 20.3 by 25.4 cm battery 
jars for most of the observations. Sand, clay, and a one to two 
mixture of sand and clay were used for a few special observations. 
Burrow depth and “nest” construction studies were conducted in 
thin-line arenas made by narrowly separating two panes of glass and 
filling the space with the sand-clay mixture. 
Continuous observations of burrowing specimens were made be- 
tween initiation of digging and disappearance of the solpugid below 
the soil surface in a plugged burrow. Regular interval, 10 or 20 
minutes, observations were made until the solpugid appeared at the 
side or bottom of the arena and constructed a “nest” or until 2 hours 
had passed. Two hours were considered sufficient for burrow con- 
struction with an unobservable “nest.” Special observations were 
made with an infrared viewer in the dark and sporadically with 
visual light on burrowing arenas maintained in the dark. Most lab- 
oratory observations were made at 26.6° C and 70% relative 
humidity. 
Species identifications follow Muma (1951, 1962, and 1963). 
General Burrowing Habits 
The burrowing of subterranean North American solpugids is, in 
general, very similar to that reported for Asian and African species 
(Hutton, 1843, and Hingston, 1925). The accounts given by Tur- 
ner (1916) and Fichter (1940) are too brief and generalized for 
comparison. 
Explanation of Plate 17 
Figures 1 to 6. Eremobates durangonus Roewer. 1. Female (life-size) 
returning to burrow after plowing. 2. Male (life-size) startled from nest 
beneath stone. 3. Late nymph (4X) depositing soil at burrow entrance. 
4. Nearly completed burrow plug (4X)- 5. Late nymph (2X) in nest 
beneath cow pie. 6. Second-instar nymph (5X) biting soil loose. 
