Robert W. Matthews, Allan Hook, and Joan W. Krispyn.
Nesting Behavior of Crabro argusinus and C. hilaris (Hymenoptera; Sphecidae).
Psyche 86:149-166, 1979.

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NESTING BEHAVIOR OF CRABRO ARGUSINUS AND C. HILARIS (HYMENOPTERA: SPHECIDAE)
BY ROBERT W. MATTHEWS, ALLAN HOOK' AND
JOAN W. KRISPYN
Department of Entomology
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602
The Crabroninae comprise over 1200 species of small to large solitary wasps which exhibit considerable behavioral diversity (Bo- hart & Menke 1976). The Holarctic genus Crabro includes 85 spe- cies with 47 found in the Nearctic region (Bohart 1976). Males of about 314 of these species possess a rather bizarre tibia1 "shield" thought to function in courtship, a hypothesis which awaits confir- mation. Nesting information is recorded for members of 6 of the 10 species groups recognized by Bohart, but few detailed studies have been made. Kurczewski and Acciavatti (1968) reviewed the biology of the Nearctic species listing a number of behavioral generaliza- tions applicable to Crabro. All known species are relatively uniform in their nesting behavior, compared to the diversity of behaviors found in other sphecid genera of comparable size. Evans et al. (1979) have recently extended our knowledge of Nearctic Crabro with observations on 7 species.
The 2 species reported here, C. argusinus Packard and C. hilaris F. Smith, are "typical" members of the genus although each belongs to a different species group. This is the first record of nesting for C. hilaris; C. argusinus was studied briefly by Evans (1960) and again in 1970 (Evans et al. 1979) in New York. With the exception of one population briefly observed on the mainland 11 mi E of Midway, Georgia, all observations were made on St. Catherine's Island, GA, a coastal island situated about 30 miles south of Savannah. The study spanned three seasons 1976- 1978. Principal island study sites are located in Fig. 1. Present address: Department of Zoology and Entomology, Colorado State Uni- versity, Ft. Collins, CO 80523
Manuscript received by the editor November 13, 1979



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Psyche
[June-September
Figure 1.
St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, with study sites where populations of Crabro hilaris (sites 1 and 2) and C. argusinus (sites 3, 4 and 5) nested.



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19791 Matthews, Hook & Krispyn - Behavior of Crabro 15 1
Crabro hilaris F. Smith
This previously unstudied species was discovered on October 29-30, 1977 when several nests were found at two inland localities. A check of the same localities on October 5, 1978 failed to turn up any C. hilaris, which suggests that this species is a late season nester. Intensive collecting on the island throughout the summers of 1977 and 1978 and the early spring of 1978 also failed to turn up any specimens suggesting that the species is univoltine. The majority of our observations were made along a plowed strip of sandy loam soil extending across a grassy clearing of about 100 m. The habitat (Fig. 2) had been created earlier in 1977 (late July) as a firebreak approximately 1 m wide. We counted about 30 active nests along this firebreak. Another smaller aggregation of about 15 nests was found in sandy soil adjacent to a road several km away. Eight nests were successfully excavated. These contained from 1-5 cells per nest. Burrows descended nearly vertically (Fig. 3); cells were situated 5-8 cm to the side of the main burrow and averaged 28 cm deep (ranges 25-38 cm; n= 14). Two measured cells were 7.5 X 14 mm and 6 X 20 mm. Cells contained an average of 9 flies (range 4-14; n=13). Prey were identified as follows: Sciomyzidae: Dictya sp. -1
S yrphidae: Allograpta obliqua (Say) - 4 Toxomerus geminatus (Say) - 1
Muscidae: Coenosia sp. - 6
Calliphoridae: Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) - 1 Sarcophagidae: Camptops unicolor Aldrich - 3 Sarcophaga sp. - 1
Tachinidae:
Ceracia dentata (Coquillett) - 1
Spathimeigenia spinigera (Coq.) - 1
One female was observed to initiate a new nest only 1 cm away from her previous nest. Soil was loosened with the mandibles and forelegs and pushed backwards with the assistance of the mid and sometimes the hind legs. As she digs the female slowly rotates through 360' while penetrating the surface and she was very soon completely hidden by the accumulating mound. Nest entrances were surrounded by a conspicuous tumulus of unleveled soil averaging about 5 cm diam. Burrow diameter was 4-5 mm.



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152 Psyche [June-September
Figure 2.
Plowed "firebreak" where ~rabro hilaris nested in 1977 (site 1 in Fig. 1).




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19791 Matthews, Hook & Krispyn - Behavior of Crabro 153 Nest entrances are left open during periods of active provisioning and closed at night. Prey-laden females typically approach from about 213 m above their entrance and then slowly descend nearly vertically into the open entrance. Flight is silent and prey is held venter up by the middle legs. Provisioning appeared to occur throughout the day. Departing females were often observed to rest motionless with their head blocking the nest entrance for several minutes before departure.
Parasitism by miltogrammine flies was 26.7% overall with maggot-infested cells found in nests from both aggregations. As many as 6 maggots were found in a single cell. Those reared were identified as Senotainia sp. or S. trilineata (Wulp). Three adult wasps were successfully reared from cocoons main- tained at room temperature. A male emerged the following Febru- ary and a female emerged in mid-April, followed by another in May. Miller and Kurczewski (1976) have made observations on two other members of the hilaris species group. Crabro argusinus Packard
This species was clearly bivoltine, having both a spring and a fall generation on St. Catherine's Island. In late April, 1978 it was with- out question the "dominant" species of solitary wasp, occurring ubiquitously over the island. We studied it principally at 3 localities (Fig 1). One was at the northern end of the island where it nested in steep eroding sand cliffs and blowouts adjacent to the ocean (Fig. 4) that we termed the "north beach site". Another was termed the Wamassee Creek site and was located on the western edge of the island. Here the wasps nested sparsely over a large area of sand bank exposed by the meandering Wamassee Creek. The third study site was called the "boiler site" because of its proximity to an aban- doned oyster boiler (Fig. 5). This locality was considerably more protected than the north beach area and the Wamassee Creek site was surounded on three sides by salt marsh. In contrast to the nearly vertical nesting surfaces at the other sites, nests at the boiler site were constructed in flat, more or less open sandy soil having a surface of crushed oyster shells. High tide level came to the edge of the nest area with the highest of the spring tides occasionally briefly inundating the entire nest site. The nesting population at the boiler site was rather localized, consisting of about 50 nests concentrated in an area of about 2 X 8 m. Nests at the north beach and Wamassee



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above
[June-September
Figure 3. Profile and top view of a typical nest of Crabro hilaris. Black dot indicates burrow storage site of flies prior to placement in cell. Cells are numbered according to apparent order of construction based upon larval development. Scale bar is 5 cm.




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19791 Matthews, Hook & Krispyn - Behavior of Crabro 155 Figure 4.
"Clitf at the north beach site (site 3 in Fig. I), containing numerous nests of Crabro argusinus scattered throughout the middle portions of the cliff. Females hunted prey along the high tide line among the washed-up debris (mostly Spurtina reeds).
Creek sites were scattered over a much larger area, with over 100 nests estimated to be active in each area. In early October, 1978 we also excavated a few nests from a sandy road which led to the boiler site about 100 m away. Evidently we were too early for most of the fall nesting season, since, despite extensive searching, no C. argusi- nus were nesting at the other sites at this date and all nests found on the road were fresh and the population seemed to be greatly increased on the last day of our visit.
Table 1 summarizes data obtained from 31 nest excavations of this species according to date and locality. At all sites burrows entered the soil obliquely at roughly a 60å angle to the surface and contained from 1-7 cells situated 3-5 crn from the sides of the tunnel end (Figs. 6-7). Prey accumulate in the bottom of the burrow and are later transferred to the cell. Eggs are attached to the throat of one of the largest flies situated venter up, head in-first, farthest into the cell. Burrow diameter was 4-5 mm and on level soil a distinct unleveled tunnel of soil accumulated around the entrance. The 16 cells measured fell into 2 clusters, smaller cells 5X 10 mm - 6X 14 rnm and larger cells 7x15 mrn - 8x17 mm.




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156 Psyche [June-September
Considering the 2 main study localities (north beach and boiler site), comparisons of the different populations from the same season as well as comparisons of populations from different seasons at the same site reveal some rather striking differences (Table 1). Fall populations at the north beach site constructed nests with cell depths averaging 16.1 to 17.0 cm (2 successive seasons). Cells con- tained an average of 11.2 to 14.6 prey (2 successive seasons). Spring populations nesting at the same site constructed significantly deeper burrows, with cell depths averaging 28.9 ern and provisioned with a much larger number of flies (2 = 30.9fcell). Comparing populations of the two main localities at the same season (spring 1978) also revealed important differences. Spring nests at the boiler site were significantly shallower and cells were provisioned with fewer flies per cell (Table 1). Prey preferences also differed somewhat, possibly reflecting differences in hunting habi- tats. The north beach population lacked ready access to salt marsh and appeared to hunt mainly along the beach. Even so, 12 of 32 prey species were represented in cells at both sites (Table 2). Ephydridae and Dolichopodidae were preferred prey at both sites. Figure 5.
Boiler site (site 5 in Fig. 1); Crubro argusinus nested in the flat area in the foreground. Back Creek runs adjacent to this site on the left, and an extensive area of salt marsh extends behind the viewer. High tides occasionally barely covered the nest area.




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19791 Matthews, Hook & Krispyn - Behavior of Crabro 157 Figures 6-7.
Profiles of typical Crabro argusinus spring nests from (6) the boiler site, and (7) the north beach site. Cells are numbered according to apparent order of provisioning based upon larval development. Black dot indicates point where prey flies were stored in burrow prior to transfer to a cell. Scale bar is 5 cm. Hunting behavior and prey capture was observed on several occa- sions at the north beach site. Females flew slowly into the wind along the high tide line where salt marsh reeds and other debris had accumulated along the base of the cliffs. Prey appeared to be detected visually as they rested on the white sand as wasps were frequently seen to dart at small dark pebbles of the same size as the flies. Upon spying a potential prey item the wasp hovered momen- tarily about 10 cm downwind of it and 6-8 cm above the substrate, then suddenly it darted forward very quickly and pounced upon the prey in an attack aptly described as "hit and run". It was possible to walk alongside of individual females for several meters as they flew slowly along pouncing on one object after another until they were finally successful in capturing a prey item. In contrast to the major- ity of other species of Crabro, C. argusinus prey were clearly para- lyzed and not necessarily killed.
In addition to the physical differences between these two study localities, differences in the abundance of parasites were also strik- ing. At the more localized and protected boiler site miltogrammine flies were excessively common and reflecting this, the incidence of



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Table 1.
Summary of data for 31 Crabro argusinus nests from different sites and different seasons on St. Catherine's Island, Ga.
No. No. No.
nests cells Cell Prey
Percent
Locality Date examined per nest Depth (cm) Per Cell Parasitism North Beach
North Beach
North Beach
Boiler Site
Road to
Boiler
Warnassee
Creek
5 Nov.
1976
29-30 Oct.
1977
21-23 Apr.
1978
21-23 Apr.
1978
7-8 Oct.
1978
10 June
7 1-2 X= 17.0
range: 15-18
(n=8)
4 1-3 X=16.1
range: 15-18
(n=5)
8 1-3 x=28.9
range: 19.5-37.5
(n= 13)
6 3 -7 X=18.7
range: 12.5-26
(~26)
5 1-5 x=11.0
range: 8-13
(n= 1 1)
1 7 x=35.9
range: 32.5-40.5
( n= 7)
x=14.6 0
range: 8-16
(n= 7)
x=11.2 0
range: 5-19
(n= 6)
x=30.9 0
range: 9-92
(n=8)
x= 19.9 16.7
range: 18-43
(n=24)
x= 14.9 0
range: 9-28
(n=l I)
i= 13.7 0
range: 7-25
(n=4)




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19791 Matthews, Hook & Krispyn - Behavior of Crabro 159 parasitized cells was 16.7% in April, 1978. Miltogrammine flies col- lected or reared from the boiler site belonged to two genera, Seno- tainia spp. and Sphenornetopa sp. At north beach no miltogram- mine flies were seen and no parasitized cells were found. Possibly the strong and persistent winds blowing along the north beach cliffs dispersed the parasites. Also, it may simply be that it was less "prof- itable" for the flies to invest time and energy battling the winds to locate the widely dispersed nests. At the road site in October, 1978, parasite flies were common, but no parasitized cells were found. Two flies collected here were Senotainia trilineata (Wulp) and Sphe- nornetopa tergata (Coquillett).
Perhaps correlated with the presence or absence of parasites, the behavior of provisioning females differed strikingly. Prey-laden females returning to open nests at the boiler site made a distinctive approach flight in which they would approach the nest entrance and then slowly drift backwards away from the nest. Some females were observed to retreat as much as 3 m in a rather pulsating flight about 6-10 cm above the substrate. This conspicuous flight behavior usu- ally attracted 1 to several miltogrammine flies who followed in close synchrony with the movement pattern of their potential host (hence the very apt common name = satellite flies). Having lured the para- sites off some distance, the female suddenly and unpredictably zoomed forward in a "bee line" plunging headlong into her open entrance and leaving the flies behind, somewhat disoriented. The same behavior was observed on the mainland site, a flat expanse of sandy soil constituting a turnaround area at the end of a dirt road. Several miltogrammine flies were sighted at this area. Comparable behavior was never seen in females nesting at north beach or Wamassee Creek, and may therefore represent a response to increased parasite pressure at the boiler and mainland sites. Evans (1960) records the same behavior for this species when pursued by miltogrammines. Closely similar anti-parasite provisioning behav- ior has also been described for an unrelated sphecid, Philanthus crabroniforrnis F. Smith by Alcock (1974). On at least one occasion a Senotainia was observed to follow a female wasp into her burrow. Nests were typically left open during provisioning, but at least two females made weak temporary outer closures between provisioning trips and "crashed" directly into their nests upon returning. This behavior may have been a response to parasite pressure. Several parasitized cells contained more than one



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Table 2.
Summary of 520 prey taken by Crabro argusinus from different sites and at different seasons on St. Catherine's Island, Georgia.
Prey Species
TABANIDAE
Chrysops fulginosus Wiedemann
THEREVIDAE
Psilocephala sp. prob. latifrons Cole
EMPIDIDAE
Hilara sp.
Rhamphomyia pectoris Coquillett
DOLICHOPODIDAE
Chrysotus sp.
Dolichopus alacer Van Duzee
Gymnopternus vetitus Melander
Hypocharassus gladiator Mik
Hypocharassus pruinosus (Wheeler)
Nanomyina litorea Robinson
Paraclius filifer Aid rich
Paraclius claviculatus Loew
Paraclius pumilio Loew
Pelastoneurus angulatus Robinson
Pelastoneurus abbreviatus Loew
Pelastoneurus spp.
Locality and Date
North Beach Site Boiler Site Road Site Wamassee Creek Nov. Oct. April
1976 1977 1978 April, 1978 Oct. 1978 June, 1978



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Table 2 (continued)
Thinophilus frontalis Van Duzee
Thinophilus semipallidus Robinson
Thinophilus ochrifacies Van Duzee
SYRPHIDAE
Toxomerus marginatus (Say)
OTITIDAE
Chaetopsis apicalis Johnson
Euxesta sp.
TETHINIDAE
Tethina albula (Loew)
MILICHIIDAE
Pholeomyia n. sp. nr. indecora
(Loew)
CANACIDAE
Canace snodgrassi Coquillett
EPHYDRIDAE
Cirrula fuscifemur (Steyskal)
Ephydra subopaca Loew
Dimecoenia fuscifemur Steyskal
Lamproscatella n. sp.
Lipochaeia slossonae Coquillett
Notiphila bispinosa Cr.
Notiphila sp.
Paradrya quadrituberculata Loew




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Table 2 (continued)
Prey Species
Paradrya unituberculata Loew
Polytrichophora sp.
Scatella obsolete Loew
Scatella picea (Walker)
Scatella sp. prob. new
Setacera pilicornis (Coquillett)
Chersodromia inusitata Melander
Paralimna decepiens Loew
ANTHOMYIIDAE
Hylemya platura (Meigen)
Fucellia tergina (Zetterstedt)
MUSCIDAE
Coenosia sp.
Lispe albitarsis Stein
CALLIPHORIDAE
Cochliomvia macellaria (F.)
SARCOPHAGIDAE
Tricharaea simplex (Aldrich)
Sarcophaga sp.
TACHINIDAE
Leucosioma simplex (Fallen)
Myiophasia sp.
Locality and Date
North Beach Site
Boiler Site Road Site Wamassee Creek
Nov. Oct.
1976 1977
1
1
1
2
6
9 2 5
3
1
3
1
1
1
April
1978 April, 1978 Oct. 1978 June, 1978
TOTALS 95 89 144 145 3 7 10