Transactions Texas Academy of Science. 
21 
in “Observations on the Instincts and Habits of Solitary Wasps”, 
Bulletin Ho. 2, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, 
1898. It was this work which first induced me to take up the 
study of solitary wasps as a summer’s recreative work and from 
which I have derived many helpful suggestions in my study. The 
remaining literature on the subject comprises slort papers that 
record, for the most part, only individual observations. 
Most of the observations recorded in the present paper were made 
in July, August and September of 1903. The work was not done 
continuously during this time, but in periods of from three to four- 
teen days, because of frequent interruptions, chiefly on account of 
rains, which were very heavy and long continued, drowning out 
many wasp larvae. 
The scene of action of these exciting dramas of insect life was 
the sandy woods five miles southeast of Austin, on the high south 
bank of the Colorado River. The woods are a favorable place for 
studying solitary wasps, for they are numerous both in species and 
individuals and it is, nioreover, easy to observe and to follow them 
because the sandy soil will support but a sparse vegetation, in which, 
in less favorable places, a wasp is often lost to view. In point of 
comfort to the observer, the woods offer a decided' advantage, for, 
in the first place, he can often make use of the inviting shade of the 
spreading post-oak and hickory trees, though he often has to resort 
to his umbrella for protection against the burning rays of the sun. 
Wasps, it must be remembered, revel in hot, clear days and work 
best in the heat of noon-day when the mercury is flirting with the 
100 mark. Indeed, on dreary days most of the wasps wiJl not 
work at all, but will fly listlessly about, sipping nectar from the 
flowers. The second point of comfort is derived from the absence 
of “red bugs” and ticks. These pestiferous creatures are found 
on vegetation and since almost the only herbs found in the woods 
are grass-burs and bull-nettles, which one assiduously avoids any- 
how, it follows that one collects few, if any, “red bugs” and ticks in 
the place in question. 
The observations are recorded below by species and theoretical 
considerations have been intercolated wherever it was deemed nec- 
essary or desirable. These latter have been summed up in the 
“Conclusions” at the end. 
I wish to take this opportunity of thanking Dr. S. Graenicher of 
Milwaukee and Dr. H. W. Ashmead of the Smithsonian for the 
identification of the Solitary and the Parasitic Wasps. 
