Abstract
The nesting behavior of >150 females of Episyron quinquenotatus was studied comparatively at eight localities in the northeastern United States from 1967 to 1993. The two major study sites, Presque Isle State Park, Erie County, PA, and Auburn, Cayuga County, NY, were investigated mainly during 1967–1969. Wasps nesting in sand at Presque Isle dug longer and deeper burrows more rapidly than females nesting in loamy fine sand at Auburn. Females at Auburn were smaller than those at Presque Isle and transported prey spiders mainly on the ground. The prey spiders at Presque Isle were often carried in flight by the larger wasps. Mechanics of nest closure sometimes differed between wasps at the two localities. Females captured six genera and nine species of orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae) at seven localities. Araneus patagiatus adult females, A. diadematus immatures, and Eustala anastera adult females were predominant prey at Presque Isle while Araniella displicata adult females and Neoscona arabesca adult females were prevalent prey at Auburn. Larger wasps laid larger eggs. There was a positive correlation between size of prey spider and size of wasp produced in the next generation. Females at Presque Isle sometimes completed two or, rarely, three nests per day.
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