Nesting Height Preferences of Eumenid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae) That Prey on Spruce Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract
Three species of eumenid wasps, Ancistrocerus adiabatus (Saussure), Ancistrocerus antilope (Panzer), and Euodynerus leucomelas (Saussure), accepted and provisioned predrilled wooden blocks placed in a spruce-fir forest of Maine. The eumenids preyed on late instars of the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), and on other lepidopterous defoliators. Spruce budworm accounted for 94% of provisioned prey. There was no significant difference in acceptance among trap-nesting blocks at four heights (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 m). However, there was a trend toward increased acceptance of blocks at 0.5 m.