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Teaching Ecological Interactionswi Nests

Robert W. Matthews

E COLOGICAL concepts such as The unexpected presence of a What Are Mud Daubers?

food chains, communities variety of scavengers, parasites and Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Mud daubers are medium-sized, and interactions between predators in the nests offers stu- non-aggressive in the family species are routinely covered in life dents an engaging opportunity to . In the United States, science curricula at many grade gain firsthand appreciation of the three species are common (Figure levels. In my experience, students diverse connections and authentic 2): the readily relate to simple food chains interactions among members of an ( politum), the black and such as grasshoppers or rabbits unusual microcommunity. One of yellow mud dauber (Sceliphroncae- eating vegetation and in turn being the objectives of this activity is to mentarium) and the steel blue mud consumed by birds or foxes. How- get students to ask questions that dauber (Chalybion californicum). ever, concepts such as become progressively more scien- The preferred species for this ac- and nutrient cycling can be more tific. Comparison of class results tivity is the organ pipe mud difficult to grasp. quickly moves beyond "Did I get dauber, found throughout the east- Over the past few years, I have the right answer?" to more scientif- ern United States, from southern used the distinctive nests of mud ically meaningful questions such Maine to central Kansas and south- dauber wasps (Figure 1) as the ba- as, "What sample size is necessary eastern Texas. If the organ pipe sis for successful laboratory activi- to reflect the situation in nature?" mud dauber is not readily available ties, both in university courses in Food chains and webs will differ in your geographic area, with ecology and behavior and in public from one nest to the next, illustrat- slight modifications one of the school life science classes. The ac- ing the dynamic nature of these other species can be substituted. tivities appear adaptable to a range relationships. Both are found throughout the en- of student ages and abilities, and The activities provide students tire United States and southern seem to challenge and stimulate an opportunity to develop and Canada, and have been widely in- even the most complacent students. practice basic skills, from careful troduced elsewhere. Mud dauber nests are widely dissection to identification, obser- available, inexpensive and safe. vation, measurement and commu- They are easily collected and nication. The process closely re- A Mud Dauber Life stored prior to use in the laboratory sembles what a scientist does in exercise. After describing, measur- that students can frame hypothe- Unlike the perennial hives of ing and sketching the nest exterior, ses, draw conclusions, and make honeybees, the nests of mud daub- open the nests, identify the con- inferences based on observations ers are solitary, once-a-year under- tents using a simple dichotomous and collected information. Stu- takings. Although a single favor- key, and record the data. Two to dents' research into this topic is able location may have many nests, three 45-minute laboratory ses- open-ended and real, conducted these are not a colony. Rather, they sions are usually required. like that of working field biologists simply reflect common attraction and potentially just as valuable to to a favorable spot. The following the scientific community. Even to- information is based on Shafer Robert W. Matthews is Professor of day, new discoveries about mud (1949) and Cross et al. (1975), plus Entomology and Acting Department dauber nests are being described in the author's own experience. Head, Department of Entomology, the research literature (for exam- In early to mid-summer, mud University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30601. ples, see Coward & Matthews 1995; daubers emerge from last year's Molumby 1995). nests. After mating, females begin

152 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 59, NO. 3, MARCH1997 struction the female is joined by a male who moves into the tube, mates repeatedly with her, and stands guard, defending the nest from intruders and competi- tors. Over the single season of her short adult life, a female mud dauber may construct several nests in various locations or add new tubes to preexisting nests. How- ever, neither she nor her mate show any further interest in the completed nests or the offspring within. The other two mud dauber species have similar behavior, ex- Figure 1. The two common kinds of mud dauber nests that occur widely in the United States. (left) The nest of the organ pipe mud dauber, Trypoxylonpolitum, cept for the presence of a guarding Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 consists of one or more parallel mud tubes typically 10-12 cm in length. Note the male. surface texturing, a series of chevron-shaped mud strips. The absence of large Mud dauber development is an holes indicates that this is a current nest. The reverse of emergence year (middle) example of complete metamorpho- the same nest shows mud dividers that partition each tube into individual cells. (right) A representative nest of the black and yellow mud dauber, sis, in which the immature and caementarium(maximum length 40 mm). adult forms are completely differ- ent creatures not unlike a caterpil- to construct nests near a reliable of cells within a tube, the entire lar and butterfly. After about two source of water or mud and abun- pipe is full. Usually during con- days, the egg hatches into a young dant spiders. Organ pipe mud daubers and black and yellow mud daubers pick up mud in their jaws. The steel , how- ever, carries only water, which it uses to soften and remove mud from preexisting nests made by the other two species. After reusing others' nests, it reseals them with this recycled mud. Each female organ pipe mud dauber begins by constructing a single mud tube, an activity that requires from three hours to a full day's labor. The female then switches to hunting spiders. Find- ing one, she stings it, then carries it back to the tube in her jaws and packs its paralyzed body inside. The wasp may gather from 3 to 18 spiders before she pauses. (The number of spiders appears to be related to their size, a matter both of spider species and of seasonal- ity, for spiders get larger as the UnitedStates (top to bottom): Trypoxylon politum , Chalybion summer progresses.) Finally the Figure 2. Adults and cocoons of the three common mud dauber wasps in the wasp lays an egg across the abdo- men of one of the last spiders, then caltfornicum.Anterior (head) ends of cocoon face to left. Note bumps on head end seals off the prey and egg behind a of T. politum cocoons and the "'chuck chamber" (at right end) of cocoons of S. mud partition. After the wasp has caementariumthat contain larval waste. Cocoons of C. californicumare more opaque to the translucent material characteristic of S. repeated this entire process two or and leathery compared flimsy caementariumcocoons. Adults and cocoons measure 20-30 mm long. three more times, making a series

TEACHINGECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS 153 larva, which consumes the spider holes, under decks and porches, knocked them down. However, it's on which it rests. Moving freely and on carportwalls. rare that a student knows what to about within its cell, the growing Typically, favorable sites will expect inside the nest. To set the larva eats the remaining spiders have nests of various ages and con- stage and heighten the suspense, over the course of about 10 days. In ditions. If you have a choice, collect weave an introductory scenario in the now-empty compartment, it current nests for these activities. which the students are scientists constructs a mesh cradle about it- Old nests from previous nesting from Mars, travelers in the un- self, then fashions an elongate cy- cycles characteristicallyhave large charted rain forest, or early North lindrical cocoon (Figure 2), sup- holes in their sides where the new American explorers. They have ported and suspended in the silk. adults have chewed through to come upon the mud structuresfor Inside the cocoon, the larva en- emerge. Sometimes a later occu- the first time and, knowing nothing ters diapause, a cold-induced de- pant may have refilled these holes about them, decide to carefully de- velopmental delay. It remains a with mud of a differentcolor. Cur- scribe and dissect them. limp yellow prepupa for about rent nests (Figure 1 left)-those When students first receive their nine months or for the duration of completed during the most recent nests, some will want to immedi- the winter. (In the southern United nesting season-lack these holes ately break them open. Encourage States,a part of the population may because the new generation of students to work slowly and to use Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 develop without diapause late in wasps is still inside. (Currentnests care to avoid breaking nests open the summer to produce a small may have an occasionalsmall hole, during the exterior nest analysis. second generationof adults.) When however, if they have been parasit- Attention to detail at this point will warm temperatures return, devel- ized.) help them draw meaningful com- opment resumes. The larva molts Nests attached to wood will be parisons with the data they gather into a pupa, acquires adult colora- easier to remove than those at- from inside the nest later. tion gradually over the next six to tached to concrete. Use a putty After students have sketched eight weeks, then molts one last knife to pry off and dislodge nests. and measured the external dimen- time into a winged adult wasp. As they fall, catch them in a net or sions of the nest from both sides, Shortly afterward,the adult chews box. Place each in a separatereseal- the nests may be placed in labeled its way to freedom, first through able plastic bag, labeled with the plastic bags and stored in the re- the cocoon, then through the side collection date and locality. frigerator until the next class ses- wall of the nest. Interestingly, Store bags in a refrigeratoruntil sion. Devote the second period to while larvae subsist on spider use. Like all , the nest dissecting each cell and identifying meat, adult mud daubers appar- inhabitants are ectothermic and and tabulating the contents. A ently feed upon nectar sipped from can be kept refrigeratedalmost in- third class period can be spent an- flowers, supplemented perhaps by definitely. alyzing and discussing class re- the body fluids of spiders they sults. The dissection activity is have stung. LaboratoryPlanning & most appropriate for the middle Preparation and high school levels incorpo- rated into units on ecology, but is Obtaining & StoringNests Prior to conducting this activity adaptable to any level or time with students, dissect a nest your- schedule. Nests for classroom use should self. Identify the organisms with be collected during the cool the aid of the dichotomous key Teacher Information months between September and (Figure 3), and save representative April, when nests have been aban- inhabitantsfor a class referencecol- The flat side of the nest was at- doned, and the nest contents are in lection. For a durable, attractive tached to the building. Often the diapause. You may wish to collect and inexpensive display mount, contents of the cell compartments the nests yourself. Alternatively, place cotton batting inside a plastic are visible (Figure 1, middle), be- students are often aware of places petri dish or between a pair of clear cause the wasp uses the wall surface where mud dauber nests occur and food container lids such as those as the fourth side of her nest, con- are eager to help collect nests. Con- found on some yogurt containers. serving materialsand energy. sider extra credit or other suitable Center the nest inhabitant and an Students should be encouraged rewards. identifying label on the cotton, to develop hypotheses to investi- Bridges are particularlyreward- close the mount, and secure the gate. For example, one hypothesis ing places to look for nests. Other sides with cellophane tape. might be that the parasitismrate is good sites include old barns (look Most of your class will probably higher for larger nests than for on the walls around entrances), have seen a mud dauber nest at smaller ones. Students may wish to golf course shelters near water some point, and a few may have compare their data with published

154 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 59, NO. 3, MARCH1997 la. Objectenclosed in a capsuleor cocoon-like structure ...... go to number2 lb. Objectnot enclosed within a cocoonor capsule ...... go to number4 2a. Structurelarge, black, >10 mm long, Cocooncontaining offspring of originalbuilder, a muddauber. (In very old nests fillingmost of a cell,often cradledin cocoonsmay have one end broken and plastered over with mud. This means that a silkenthreads (Fig. 2) .. . smallerinhabitant - probably a wasp or - subsequentlyused the old empty cocoon as a nestcavity.) Note:...... to furtheridentifyr cocoon contents go to numiberlO 2b. Structuresmaller, <10 mm long; black or tan ...... go to number3 3a. Structurecylindrical, with rounded smooth ends (sometimes one end is brokenopen), usually loose in thecell among remains of spiderparts; Pupacase of piratefly (Amobiaor Senotania), a oftenseveral in samecell compartment ...... pirateof themud dauber's prey. 3b. Strutureleathery, with fuzzy cover; compact. not cylindrical. Oftentightly stuck to cornerof cellcompartment ...... Cocoonof cuckoowasp parasite (Trichrysis).

4a. Sixlegs present ...... go to number5 Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 - If deadand dry, probably remains of originalprey collected by mud dauber to feedits 4b. Eightlegs present... Spider 4 young;if alive,probably a recent arrival using mud nest as shelter. 5a. Wingsabsent ...... go to number6 5b. Wingspresent ...... go to number7 6a. Verysmall, inconspicuous, less than 1 mmlong. Crawls relativelyquickly. Several often found together ...... Booklouse (Lioscelus), a scavengeron nest leftovers. 6b. Larger,bristly body with many hairs, especially at rear end. Often Carpetbeetle larva (Trogoderma), a scavenger that severalof differentsizes in a cell,together with old shed skins ...... feedson dried spiders. 7a. Verysmall, black, about 1 mmlong, gnat-like in appearance,often severaldead in a singlecell...... Melittoia,a gregariousparasitic wasp. 7b. Largerinsects (>5 mm in length)...... goto number8 8a. Brightmetallic iridescent green or blue, 2 pairsof wings ...... Adultcuckoo wasp (Trichrysis), a parasite.l 8b. Dullblack, sometimes marked with white. One pair of wings ...... go to number9 9a. Wingswith distinctive black markings ...... * IAdult bee fly (Anthrax),a parasite.

9b. Wingsclear. Resembles an ordinary house fly J.....r IAdult pirate fly (Amobia or Senotania), a parasite. lOa.Cocoon contents cannot be tipped out Cocoonof velvet (Sphaeropthalma), that parasitizes prepupa inside cocoon. oreasily dislodged; instead a tightly Carefulexamination of cocoon exterior may reveal a smallmud spot where the velvet woventan cocoon found within .... * | antpierced the cocoon to deposither egg within, then attempted to concealher act. lOb.Cocoon contents (or at least part of them)can be readily emptied onto a paper...... go to number11 lla. Contentsconsist of a singlelarge, legless, grub-like organism ...... go to number12 llb. Contentsconsist of numerous(>50) very Immaturesof a gregariousparasitic wasp, , the most common parasite smallgrayish legless grub-like organisms of muddauber wasps everywhere. (Cocoons may contain only shed skdns and a clumpedtightly together ...... fewdead adult Melittobia from an earlier attack (see number 7a)). e Y dauber(prepupa) in arresteddevelopment for surviving the winter. l 12awGrubbt withwhitysplltowish spos ...... * Immaturemud

12b.Grub body whitish, rather stiff, not at all limp...... IOverwintering larva of parasiticbee fly (Anthrax).l

Figure3. A key to the most common arthropodinhabitants of a current-yearorgan pipe mud daubernest. Inhabitantsof other kinds of mud dauber nests will be similar. Older nests may often have a significantlymore diverse assemblage of squatters, including various solitary and wasps, , spiders, pseudoscorpions,and beetles.

TEACHINGECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS 156 measurements. In Alabama (Cross et al. 1975), the organ pipe mud Student Activity: What's dauber averaged 3.8 cell compart- Inside a Mud Dauber's Nest? ments per completed mud tube, with an inside tube width of 10.2 Mud dauber nests are familiar per plate. Do all of your mm and average tube length of sights to most people. On the walls work on this plate, which 106.2 mm (range 75-145 mm). The of buildings, they may persist for will contain the dirt for later years. To the casual observer, they average cell length was 19.9 mm disposal. look like shelters made to live in. 3. Observe the exterior of the (range 7.4-28.0 mm). Interestingly, You may have noticed the mak- nest. Which side was at- the mother wasp apparently con- er-a solitary,non-aggressive wasp. tached to the substrate? In structed larger cells for her female- However, had you stayed to watch your notebook, describe the producing eggs: the average length her work for several days during surface texture and colors of of male-producing cells was 20.7 the summer, you might have been the mud. Which end faced mm; for female-producing cells, surprisedto find that as soon as the up? How can you tell? 22.7 mm. Other sources of compar- nest was finished, she flew off, and 4. Tracethe nest outline in your ative data include Molumby (1995) never returned. notebook.Measure and record Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 for the organ pipe mud dauber and If she's not going to live in it, the nest dimensions and the Shafer (1949)for the black and yel- why does a wasp go to all this size and location of any low mud dauber. trouble?In fact, the nest serves as a holes. Find a section where Each of the chevrons, about well-stocked nursery for her off- textured mud arches or 1-mm wide, results from two trips spring. Within its walls, each of the chevrons are clearly visible. for mud, applied to alternatesides wasp's young is presented with Count the number of chev- of the tube. Different colors reflect fresh meat to feed upon, separated rons present along one centi- more than one source of mud. from hungry siblings, and pro- meter of the tube's length. The main purpose of the nest is tected from enemies. How well Multiply this number by the to protect the offspring from in- does the system work? Careful re- total length of the tube. What truders and (since they are canni- search may provide an answer. might each chevron repre- balistic) from one another. Thicker sent? What does the total walls might provide greaterprotec- Materials quantify? (Hint: Construc- tion mud is brought one tion, but also might interfere with For each pair or small group of mouthful at a time.) the ability of offspring to emerge. students: 5. Is each tube a continuous Physical propertiesof the construc- * One mud daubernest in a plas- tunnel? Turn the nest over. tion material (mud, water and tic resealablebag Observe and sketch the ar- wasp saliva) probably also con- * Individuallaboratory notebooks chitectural structure as it strain the architectural possibili- * A white paper plate appears from the flat side. ties. Students should be encour- * One pair of forceps Measure and record the di- aged to do library research into * Dissecting needle or toothpick mensions of any visible com- architecture(i.e. bird nests, probe partments(called cells). Why termite mounds) as an extension to * Approximately6 vials or small would cells be needed? What this topic. jars with stoppers functions might they serve? Holes in the nest wall, if present, * lox magnifying lens or a dis- 6. Measure the thickness of the be of two sizes. The secting microscope may larger mud wall at five different * Marking pen to label contain- holes (2-5 mm diameter) spaced at points along the exterior ers about 20-mm intervals represent wall, and obtain an * Metric ruler average. places where new adult offspring Do the same for the cross- * One empty egg carton chewed out sideways to escape partitions between cells. * Copies of dichotomous key their cells. Occasionalsmaller holes Which is thicker? Why? (Figure 3) (about 1 mm diameter) most likely What advantages might a were exits made by pirate flies. thick exterior wall serve? Many factors affect the popula- Procedures What disadvantagesmight it tion dynamics at a particularlocal- 1. Working in teams of two or have? What physical and bi- ity. In a large sample of organ pipe three, assemble the materials ological factors might limit mud dauber nests from nine local- listed above. its thickness? Why might a ities in Missouri and Mississippi 2. Open the bagged nest and relatively thin or nonexistent (Molumby 1995),mortality from all place it carefully on the pa- back wall be advantageous? (Continued on page 158) 156 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 59, NO. 3, MARCH1997 * suggested break between a table in which to list and ferent if the nests had no labs here * quantify the contents of each cells? What other factors cell. Then use the key (Figure might cause sizes to vary? 7. With the marker, number the 10. Do all of the cocoons really compartments in the egg car- 3) to identify them. Do not contain mud daubers? Grasp ton. Then, beginning at one open the cocoons at this a cocoon in your fingers and end of the nest, carefully use time. Based on the key, how hold it under the hand lens your fingers to break into the many different organisms or microscope. Examine it first nest compartment. did your nest contain? carefully for anything un- Switch to the forceps to 9. Examine the intact cocoons. usual, such as a tiny hole or a gently remove the cell con- Are both ends the same? spot of mud. Then use your tents. Place them into com- Sketch and describe one in fingernail to carefully break partment number 1 in the your notebook. Can you off one end of the cocoon. egg carton. Repeat for each guess which is the anterior Gently tip out the contents of the cells of your nest. How (head) end? Measure each onto a piece of paper. Use many cells did your nest one, and calculate the aver-

the key to identify the con- Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 contain? What are the dark age cocoon length. Record tents. Repeat for each co- cylindrical objects? Did ev- the average and the range in coon. Record your results in ery cell contain one? cocoon sizes in your note- your notebook. 8. In your notebook, construct book. How might this be dif- 11. Construct a web or concept map (Figure 4) that depicts the relationships between each of the organisms you found. For extra credit, use library or classroom refer- ences to research the habits Birds of the different nest inhabit- ants. \\ //1\

Additional Discussion Questions Beies Cuckoo wasps (Anthrax) (~~~Trichrysis) 1. Many of your nests had vari- I\\\ (S-phaerophthalma) ous holes in the mud walls. Was there any relationship between hole size and cell contents? Explain. 2. What percentage of the cells yielded living mud dauber offspring? What, in descend- ing order, were the causes of Muriddauber lav larval mortality in your nest? How did overall class results compare to yours? What does this suggest about mud dauber nesting strategies? 3. Suppose a female mud dauber can make 12 cells in her lifetime. Based on your own nest, how many off- spring would survive to be- come part of next year's pop- Figure 4. The food web associated with the organ pipe mud dauber nest habitat ulation? Compare your (arrows show the direction of energy flow). Because both spiders and mud dauber results with those of others in wasps are predators, at least two trophic levels exist outside of the nest habitat. the class. What similarities Producers (plants) and consumers (herbivores) underpin the entire micro-commu- can you find? How might nity found in the nest. you account for the differences?

TEACHINGECOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS 157 causes averaged 36% (range, purposes,especially if obtainedfrom living organisms, including mi- 1-57%). The tiny parasitic wasp new locations.Nesting habits of the crobes, simple prudence dictates Melittobiawas the major cause of organ pipe mud daubervary with a that you require students to wash larval mortality, parasitizingan av- number of environmental factors their hands after handling nests. erage of 23% of all cells (range, (see Barber& Matthews1979; Brock- 0-35%).Carpet beetles accounted for mann 1980). 7%of failures,cuckoo wasps and bee Expandupon this activity by try- Acknowledgments flies for 3%each, and pirateflies for ing to rear the various nest inhab- I am gratefulto the many middle an additional 2%. Velvet ants oc- itants to adulthood. Record infor- school life science teachersthrough- curredat only three of the sampled mation such as sex ratios, out Georgiawho participatedenthu- locations. Each mother wasp con- development times, degree of de- siasticallyin the workshopsin which structedan average of 12.27cells in velopmental synchrony, etc. These these ideas were developed and re- her lifetime,and half of these failed. data are also potentially publish- fined, and to the many studentswho In an earlierstudy, Crosset al. (1975) able. Another extension is to re- have found these activitiesengaging obtainedessentially similar results in search the concept of biological and informative.Robin Hurst-March Alabama. control, and consider the implica- of the of

University Missouri also Downloaded from http://online.ucpress.edu/abt/article-pdf/59/3/152/47907/4450272.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 In order for students to construct tions of parasitism and provided valuable input. The Na- a meaningful food web, they will on insect populations, both pest tionalScience Foundation supported need to be introduced to food and beneficial.Additional informa- this work in part under grant ESI- chains/webs, predators, parasites tion on mud daubers and their nest 9353040. Opinions expressed are and scavengers. These terms will associates can be found in Mat- those of the authorand not necessar- need to be understood in order to thews et al. (1996) from which this ily those of NSF. place the identifiednest inhabitants activity is adapted. in theirproper food web positions.A typical web of interactionsbetween Safety Considerations References mud dauber nest inhabitants is Are mud dauber nests safe to shown in Figure4. In additionto the collect? Yes. Collecting nests dur- Barber,M.C. & Matthews,R.W. (1979). Utilization of trap nests by the pipe- relationshipsshown, Melittobiamay ing the cool months between Sep- organ mud-dauber, Trypargilumpoli- parasitize the other parasites, a tember and April ensures that tum (:Sphecidae). An- phenomenon termed hyperparasit- nests have been abandoned, and nals of the Entomological Society of ism. If the mud dauber's egg fails the nest contents are in diapause. America, 72, 260-262. to hatch or dies, spiders may serve However, if you should need to Brockmann, H.J. (1980). Diversity in the nesting behaviorof mud-daubers instead as food for scavengers such collect nests during the summer, (Trypoxylon politum Say; Sphecidae). as carpet beetles and book lice, there is little risk from their makers. Florida Entomologist, 63, 53-64. both of which feast on dried insect Unlike paper wasps, mud daubers Coward, S. & Matthews, R.W. (1995). remains.However, pirate fly larvae are solitary nesters and do not de- (Parus bicolor) pre- can subsist only on freshly para- fend their nests, even while con- dation on mud dauber wasp prepu- pae (Trypoxylon politum). Journal of lyzed spider prey; they deposit structingthem. If disturbedduring the Kansas Entomological Society, 68, eggs or tiny larvae on the spider active nesting, the wasps simply fly 371-373. prey as it is being brought into the away. They are completelynon-ag- Cross,E.A., Stith, M.G. & Bauman,T.R. nest during the provisioning phase gressive toward people. (1975). Bionomics of the organ pipe and somehow appropriatethe prey Are mud daubernests safe in the mud dauber, Trypoxylonpolitum (Hy- menoptera: Sphecidae). Annals of the of the for themselves, perhaps by destroy- laboratory? Yes. Because Entomological Society of America, 69, ing the mud dauber'segg. wasp's life cycle, an adult would 901-906. How do your students' findings never lurk in a nest collected in fall, Matthews, R.W., Koballa, T.R. Jr., compare with those in the pub- winter or spring. The spider prey, Flage, L.R.& Pyle, E.J.(1996). WOW- lished literature?By keeping care- if still alive, cannot move except for Bugs: New Lifefor Life Science. Athens, GA: Riverview Press. ful records and combining results an occasional leg twitch, for they Molumby, A. (1995).Dynamics of par- of several classes and/or succes- have been stung and paralyzed. asitism in the organ-pipewasp, Try- sive years into a master data set, The within the cocoons are poxylon politum: Effects of spatial your classes could obtain informa- helpless grub-like immatures. Un- scale on functional re- tion of sufficientscientific value to less they are kept at room temper- sponse. Ecological Entomology, 20, 159-168. merit publication. Data like those ature for weeks, they will not com- Shafer, G.D. (1949). The Ways of a Mud of Cross et al. (1975)and Molumby plete their development. Dauber.Palo Alto, CA: StanfordUni- (1995) are valuable for comparative Because nests contain various versity Press. 78 pp.

158 THEAMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 59, NO. 3, MARCH1997