State of Knowledge of the Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in Colombia with a Key to Genera

Mario Daza; Gustavo Bellini Cortes; Fernando Barbosa Noll; Alexandre Somavilla; Carlos Sarmiento

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v73i2.11841

State of Knowledge of the Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in Colombia with a Key to Genera

Authors

Mario Daza Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE), Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2521-4865
Gustavo Bellini Cortes Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE), Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3831-7104
Fernando Barbosa Noll Universidade Estadual Paulista “Julio de Mesquita Filho" (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE), Departamento de Zoologia e Botânica, São Jose do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0207-1067
Alexandre Somavilla Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Manaus, AM, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8174-7418
Carlos Sarmiento Universidad Nacional de Colombia -Sede Bogotá - Instituto de Ciencias Naturales - Laboratório de Sistemática y Biología Comparada de Insectos, Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4012-8108

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v73i2.11841

Keywords:

distribution, Epiponini, neotropical, Polistinae, social insects

Abstract

Colombia, located within the Tropical Andes Hotspot, is one of the most biodiverse countries, yet its social wasp diversity remains insufficiently documented. An update of the social wasps of Colombia is conducted, based on information from literature as well as on examination in collections. A total of 275 species and 26 subspecies of Polistinae in Colombia were recorded, with 161 species and 11 subspecies belonging to Epiponini, 86 species and 4 subspecies to Mischocyttarini, and 28 species and 11 subspecies to Polistini. New geographical records are given, highlighting the country’s unique faunal composition. This study provides an updated taxonomic list of Polistinae in Colombia compiling 22 species to previous lists, all of these exclusive to Colombia and offers an identification key for the genera occurring in the country. These findings highlight the need for continued research, given the potential for undiscovered species and further research on the diversity of the Polistinae.

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Published

2026-06-16

How to Cite

Daza, M., Cortes, G. B., Noll, F. B., Somavilla, A., & Sarmiento, C. (2026). State of Knowledge of the Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) in Colombia with a Key to Genera. Sociobiology, 73(2), e11841. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v73i2.11841

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Issue

Vol. 73 No. 2 (2026): Continuous Publication

Section

Research Article - Wasps

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