328 
Psyche 
[Vol. 89 
was paralyzed. Rather, after extricating themselves, both flew to 
nearby vegetation and groomed intensively before returning to their 
nests. 
However, a number of spiders were observed preying on mud- 
daubers. Wasps carrying very large prey or those having just left the 
nest sometimes blundered into webs situated directly in the flight 
path of the wasp. All 3 species of wasp were found entangled in webs 
of either Argiope aurantia, Neoscona domiciliorum (Hentz), Latro- 
dectus mactans Fabricius, Tidarren sisyphoides, Nephila clavipes 
(Linnaeus), or Filistata hibernalis Hentz. Fourteen wasps were 
observed wrapped or trapped in webs. These included Trypoxylon 
(7), Sceliphron (5) and Chalybion (2). One of the Sceliphron noted 
was an emerging adult that was trapped in the sticky threads of F. 
hibernalis that covered its cell. Micrathena webs, positioned less 
than 0.5 meters off the ground, were too low to intercept wasps in 
flight. Smaller spiders such as T. sisyphoides and the smaller indi- 
viduals of L. mactans and N. domiciliorum did not always attack 
wasps caught in webs. These spiders retreated out of the range of the 
struggling wasp on 5 occasions. Biting or wrapping were delayed 
until the wasp had exhausted itself and was quiescent. In contrast, 
two A. aurantia observed at Rocky Creek immediately descended 
from the hub, wrapped the prey, inflicted a “short bite” (Robinson, 
1969) and then returned to the hub before further wrapping com- 
menced. One Sceliphron and 3 Trypoxylon were dispatched in this 
manner. Predation on wasps by spiders is not restricted to web- 
builders. Brockmann (pers. comm.) has observed attempted preda- 
tion on mud-daubers by a Dolomedes sp. which leapt off a tunnel 
wall while attempting to grab a Trypoxylon hovering nearby. The 
spider was unsuccessful and pulled itself up the wall by the dragline. 
It is possible that large, mobile spiders of this type are preying on 
male Trypoxylon that sleep in the mud nests during the night. 
Discussion 
Barns, old houses, bridges and the vegetation surrounding them 
afford appropriate habitat for many groups of spiders. The mud- 
daubing wasps are similarly attracted to such sites, for when water 
and mud are available, these sites provide favorable nesting sub- 
strate. It is not surprising therefore to observe spiders and spider- 
hunting wasps living in close proximity. It is noteworthy, however, 
