Nest Structure of the Neotropical Social Wasp Mischocyttarus baconi (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Authors

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

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v59i1.680

Abstract

The uncovered, single-comb nests of Mischocyttarus baconi Starr have short, stout, centric petioles. We describe nest size, cell size, petiole dimensions, and the position of the petiole. In a sample of 91 nests, the comb comprised up to 198 cells. Cells had a mean side-to-side diameter at the mouth of 3.4 mm. The petiole had a mean length of 2.9 and a modal width of 2.0 mm. The degree of excentricity was determined for a sample of nests of at least 20 cells. As expected, those attached to vertical substrates (wall nests) showed greater excentricity than those attached to horizontal substrates (ceiling nests).

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References

Gadagkar, R. 1991. Belonogaster, Mischocyttarus, Parapolybia and independent-founding Ropalidia. Pp. 149-190, In: Ross, K.W. & R.W. Matthews (eds.), The Social Biology of Wasps. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press.

Karsai, S. & Z. Penzes 1996. Intraspecific variation in the comb structure of Polistes dominulus: parameters, maturation, nest size and cell arrangement. Insectes Sociaux 43:277-296.

O’Connor, T., C.K. Starr & S.A. Cameron 2011. The neotropical social wasp Mischocyttarus “alfkenii” Ducke (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is a pair of ethospecies. Systematic Entomology 36:446-452.

Richards, O.W. 1978. The Social Wasps of the Americas, Excluding the Vespinae. London: British Museum (Natural History) 580 pp.

Silveira, O.T. 2008. Phylogeny of wasps of the genus Mischocyttarus de Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 52:510-549.

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Published

2014-10-22

How to Cite

Scobie, A. A., & Starr, C. K. (2014). Nest Structure of the Neotropical Social Wasp Mischocyttarus baconi (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Sociobiology, 59(1), 235–239. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v59i1.680

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Articles

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