Social behaviour of the australian paper wasp,Ropalidia revolutionalis (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Abstract

Social behaviour ofRopalidia revolutionalis (de Saussure) was observed in Brisbane and Townsville. Nests were, as a rule, founded by association of females. Each nest began as a single comb but, after the emergence of progeny adults, satellite combs were constructed near the original comb. During the pre-emergence (single-comb) stage, each colony had a single egg-layer, despite the rare occurrence of intranidal dominance acts among female wasps. When colonies had reached the multiple-comb stage, the frequency and intensity of intranidal dominance-aggressive acts rose to a high level, comparable to those of typically aggressive colonies of e.g.Polistes canadensis in Panama. Colonies appeared to be still functionally haplometrotic during the early phase of multiple-comb stage, but several potential egg-layers were present as colony size increased. Dominant females often performed wing vibration, rapid runs between combs and tended to sit on the largest comb, whilst subordinate females tended to sit on smaller combs.