10 
Psyche 
Sceliphron assimile (Dahlb.) 
[March 
This species and Sceliphron csementarium are very close- 
ly related, and the nests are found in similar places. The 
nests of assimile are common in Soledad ; one lot was taken 
from the palm thatching of a house near Vilches Potrero, 
and another from the walls of the buildings at the main 
entrance of the estate. 
The prey of this species consists entirely of spiders. 
Some of the prey from these nests was identified by Miss 
E. B. Bryant as follows: a large number of Epeiridse rep- 
resented by males and females of Epeira oaxacensis Keys, 
and Epeira fuscovittata Keys., mostly immature and mostly 
oaxacensis; a few Thomisidse represented by immature and 
adult females of Misumena sp. ; one adult female of the 
Sicariidse, Scytodes sp. ; and one immature male of the At- 
tidse, Phidippus sp. 
A few spiders were also collected from nests of Sceli- 
phron in the lighthouse at Punta de los Colorados, near 
Cienfuegos, on September 4. Since Sceliphron assimile is 
the only species of Sceliphron which I found in that local- 
ity, these spiders were probably stored by that species. 
The prey was determined by Miss Bryant as follows: a 
small number of immature Oxyopidse represented by males 
and females of Peucetia viridans (Hentz) ; two adult 
Epeiridse, females of Epeira prompta Hentz ; and two adult 
Clubionidse, a male and female of Chiracanthium inclusum 
(Hentz) . 
The cocoon of assimile is approximately cylindrical, 
rounded at the apex, and narrowed toward the posterior 
end. I found one larva which had died after spinning the 
silken foundation of its cocoon. I cannot be certain that this 
is complete at the posterior end of the larva, and I am in- 
clined to believe that the meconium is a true stercoral 
plug, which is excreted after the cocoon is finished. Be- 
fore the larva begins its resting period, it also secretes a 
substance which colors the cocoon yellowish brown and 
makes it brittle in texture. When the mature wasp is 
about to emerge, it bites an irregular hole in the side of the 
