NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF DASYMUTILLA PYRRHUS (FOX) (HYMENOPTERA: MUTILLIDAE)¹

Dasymutilla pyrrhus (Fox) is a common species of Mutillidae at the Archbold Biological Station (Highlands Co., Florida). It is most active in the late morning (1100 - 1200) and late afternoon (1700 - 1900), especially the latter. Male activity occurs from May through July; female activity from late April through early October. Its probable hosts at this location are bembicine wasps, especially Bembix sayi Cresson and B. texana Cresson. An apparent mating was observed and is described; the entire sequence lasted about two minutes.