First observations of a social wasp preying on termite workers

Authors

  • Christopher K Starr Dr. Christopher K. Starr University of the West Indies Trinidad & Tobago ckstarr@gmail.com

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1559

Keywords:

Nasutitermes corniger, Polybia quadricincta, predation

Abstract

The social wasp Polybia quadricincta is observed preying opportunistically on workers of the termite Nasutitermes corniger in Trinidad, West IndiesSeveral Polybia spp. and other social wasps are known to prey on winged reproductive, but this appears to be the first report of any preying on workers.

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Author Biography

Christopher K Starr, Dr. Christopher K. Starr University of the West Indies Trinidad & Tobago ckstarr@gmail.com

Dep't of Life Sciences, Professor of Entomology (ret.)

References

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Merritt, N.R.C. & Starr, C.K. 2010. Comparative nesting habits and colony composition of three arboreal termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies. Sociobiology 56: 611-622. http://ckstarr.net/cks/2010-TERMITES.pdf

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O'Donnell, S. 1995. Necrophagy by neotropical swarm-founding social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini). Biotropica 27: 133-136. http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~so356/pdfNecro.pdf

Richards, O.W. & Richards, M.J. 1951. Observations on the social wasps of South America (Hymenoptera Vespidae). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 102: 1-169.

Wasmann, E. 1897. Beutetiere von Polybia scutellaris White. Zoologisher Anzeiger 20: 276-279. (Cited from Richards & Richards 1951:53)

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Published

2017-09-21

How to Cite

Starr, C. K. (2017). First observations of a social wasp preying on termite workers. Sociobiology, 64(2), 225–227. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i2.1559

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Short Note