Eumeninae Research Articles

New records of potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India: five genera and ten species

Six genera and eleven wasp species belonging to the subfamily Eumeninae of the family Vespidae are reported from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, of which five genera and 10 species are new records for the state.

Two new species of Cephalastor Giordani Soika (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), with a review of the phylogeny of the genus

Cephalastor Giordani Soika is a small Neotropical genus of eumenine wasps comprising 12 species, most of them described at the beginning of this century. The genus was revised by Garcete-Barrett, and a cladistic analysis carried out. Cephalastor humeralis n. sp. and C. minarum n. sp. are described herein, and the phylogenetic relationships among the species of the genus inferred from morphological data. A total of 34 characters were constructed (an increase of more than 209% from Garcete-Barrett's 2003 study) and new taxa added as outgroups. The monophyly of the genus was corroborated, and the relationships were stable under both equal and implied weighting schemes. New collecting records are added for Cephalastor bossanova Garcete-Barrett and Cephalastor estela Garcete-Barrett.

Conditional Mutualism BetweenAllodynerus delphinalis(Hymenoptera: Vespidae) andEnsliniella parasitica(Astigmata: Winterschmidtiidae) May Determine Maximum Parasitic Mite Infestation

Mutualism is a prominent interaction within ecosystems, yet most may actually be conditional. The symbiotic mite, Ensliniella parasitica Vitzthum, ingests the hemolymph of juvenile potter wasps, Allodynerus delphinalis (Giraud), but also protects them from a natural enemy, Melittobia acasta, and is transported to new nests in host pockets specialized for this purpose (i.e., acarinaria). Thus, two different antagonisms from the mite may arise: commensalistic cheating is expected without the natural enemy of the host, and parasitism is predicted with excessive numbers of the mite. However, facultative parasitism mediated by mutualism has rarely been studied in any organism. We found no significant differences in juvenile mortality, nesting rate, or fecundity between mite-free and naturally mite-laden juveniles. However, when overloaded with mites ( approximately 1.5-2.5 times more mites than the maximum number per wasp larva in the field), the developmental period of the male wasp was significantly delayed, and juvenile wasp mortality increased to 30%. These results show that mutualism mediated by parasitism may revert to parasitism, suggesting that either or both organisms in a mutualism mediated by parasitism need population control of the parasite to avoid the risk of parasitism.

Decoralin, a novel linear cationic α-helical peptide from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Oreumenes decoratus

A novel peptide, decoralin, was isolated from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Oreumenes decoratus. Its sequence, Ser-Leu-Leu-Ser-Leu-Ile-Arg-Lys-Leu-Ile-Thr, was determined by Edman degradation and corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. This sequence has the characteristic features of linear cationic α-helical peptides; rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids with no disulfide bond, and accordingly, it can be predicted to adopt an amphipathic α-helix secondary structure. In fact, the CD spectra of decoralin in the presence of TFE or SDS showed a high α-helical conformation content. In a biological evaluation, decoralin exhibited a significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and moderate mast cell degranulation and leishmanicidal activities, but showed virtually no hemolytic activity. A synthetic analog with C-terminal amidation showed a much more potent activity in all the biological assays.

Contribution to the knowledge of the Neotropical genus Plagiolabra von Schulthess (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae)

Plagiolabra von Schulthess is a Neotropical eumenine wasp genus that has not received much attention in the last century. Brief redescriptions of the two included species are provided, along with an identification key, illustrations and a distributional map. Male genitalia are illustrated and described for the first time. A discussion of the monophyly of the genus and phylogenetically relevant characters is presented.

Potter Wasps of Florida, Eumenes spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

EENY-403, a 3-page fact sheet by E. E. Grissell, is part of the Featured Creatures Collection. It describes this wasp which make the familiar jug-like nests found around the home, its distribution, identification, biology, and economic importance. Includes references. Published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, May 2007. EENY-403/IN726: Potter Wasps of Florida, Eumenes spp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) (ufl.edu)

Host Association in Chrysis fulgida L. and Description of Its Prepupa (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae)

In a study on the host association of the cuckoo wasp, Chrysis fulgida L., at two nesting sites in Northern Italy, it was observed emerging from nests of the mason wasp, Symmorphus crassicornis (Panzer). Although other species of eumenine wasps nested in the same area, none of them was attacked by this parasitoid. Parasitism rate per nest ranged from 0% to 66.3%, 45.8% on average. The number of parasitized cells did not decrease either with the thickness of the nest closing plug or with the length of vestibular cell. No differences in the number of cells per nest or in the length of vestibular cell were found when comparing parasitized and unparasitized nests, suggesting that the wasps probably did not abandon their parasitized nest and that the cuckoo wasp larva was not detected. A review of the host associations of the species of Chrysis of the ignita group suggests that mason wasps are the preferred hosts and that cavity-nesters are more frequently attacked than soil- or mud-nesters. The prepupa of C. fulgida is described, illustrated, and compared with the described mature larvae of Chrysididae. The postdefecating larva of this species exhibits the autapomorphy that defines the genus Chrysis: “normally developed galeae.” The most salient character shown by the mature larva of this species lies in the maxillary palpus, which has 6 sensilla at apex. This character state allows this prepupa to be differentiated from the previously described mature larvae of the genus.

Eumenitin, a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes rubronotatus

A novel antimicrobial peptide, eumenitin, was isolated from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes rubronotatus. The sequence of eumenitin, Leu–Asn–Leu–Lys–Gly–Ile–Phe–Lys–Lys–Val–Ala–Ser–Leu–Leu–Thr, was mostly analyzed by mass spectrometry together with Edman degradation, and corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. This peptide has characteristic features of cationic linear α-helical antimicrobial peptides, and therefore, can be predicted to adopt an amphipathic α-helix secondary structure. In fact, the CD spectra of eumenitin in the presence of TFE or SDS showed a high content of α-helical conformation. Eumenitin exhibited inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and moderately stimulated degranulation from the rat peritoneal mast cells and the RBL-2H3 cells, but showed no hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. This antimicrobial peptide in the eumenine wasp venom may play a role in preventing potential infection by microorganisms during prey consumption by their larvae.

Zoogeographical aspects of some scutacarid mites and their phoresy hosts (Acari, Heterostigmata; Hymenoptera, Aculeata)

Zoogeographical aspects of some scutacarid mites and their phoresy hosts (Acari, Heterostigmata; Hymenoptera, Aculeata). - The known distribution of the scutacarid species Imparipes (Imparipes) apicola (Banks), I. (I.) haeseleri Ebermann & Hall and I. (I.) breganti Ebermann & Hall is presented. Imparipes apicola shows a Holarctic distribution with records from Canada, USA, Mexico and Central Europe. The area of distribution of I. haeseleri reaches from Central and South-eastern Europe to India. Imparipes breganti is known only from a number of localities in Central Europe. Females of these three mite species were found to be phoretic on solitary bees, sphecids and one eumenine wasp species, respectively; moreover, they all possess a so-called sporotheca. The distribution of these scutacarid-species with respect to the distribution of their hymenopterous hosts is discussed. A tabular list of all species of the genus Imparipes which were found to be phoretic on various hymenopterans (data of their distribution included) is presented.

Ancistroceroides de Saussure, a Potter Wasp Genus New for the United States, with a New Key to the Genera of Eumeninae of America North of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

The eumenine genus Ancistroceroides is reported from the southwestern United States; the genus is otherwise neotropical. Two new species are described: Ancistroceroides evansi Carpenter from Texas and Mexico, and A. levis Carpenter from Arizona. Ancistroceroides cordovae Carpenter is proposed as a replacement name for A. conspicuus (de Saussure) non Smith. New combinations are: A. acuminatus (Brethes), A. domingensis (Bequaert and Salt), A. erythraeus (Brethes), A. fabienii (Brethes), A. gribodoi (Zavattari), A. mearimensis (Zavattari), A. schulzi (Zavattari), A. sylveirae (de Saussure), and A. venustus (Brethes). A new key to the genera of Wasps of the vespid subfamily Eumeninae are commonly known as potter wasps, after the elegant pot-shaped mud nests made by species of the genus Eumenes Latreille, 1802, and related taxa. There have been 294 species recorded from America North of Mexico, plus another four unrecognized (as well as 79 additional subspecies, most of which should be synonymized; see Carpenter, 1988, 2003). As elsewhere in the world, the subfamily thus comprises most of the diversity in the Vespidae: 363 total species in five subfamilies have been recorded from this area. The key to North American eumenine genera by Carpenter and Cumming (1985) included 26 known at that time; subsequently Menke and Stange (1986) reported two invasive genera established in Florida. The present paper adds another genus. The genus Ancistroceroides de Saussure, 1855, has had a turbulent taxonomic history, even for eumenine genera. It was originally described as a division of the subgenus Ancistrocerus Wesmael, 1836, of the genus Odynerus Latreille in de Saussure's worldwide monograph of Vespidae, which was published in parts from 1852-1858 (see Griffin, 1939). At the time the name was proposed there were four included species. Bequaert (1925:61) subsequently designated as type species Odynerus cruentus de Saussure, 1855; the genus was otherwise ignored. When van der Vecht (1967) requested that de Saussure's infrasubgeneric eumenine names be declared available by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature from their date of publication (editions of the Code of Zoological Nomenclature prior to 1985 did not treat such names as available), he followed that type species designation, and Opinion 893 (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, 1970) accordingly did as well. However, van der Vecht later determined that O. cruentus is a species of the Australian genus Paralastor de Saussure, 1856, which has been treated as a genus since Perkins (1914), and currently includes 138 species. In order to avoid setting aside the name Paralastor in favor of Ancistroceroides, van der Vecht (1983) requested that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature set aside Bequaert's designation, and designate as type species Odynerus alastoroides de Saussure,

Eumenidae from the Jeddah region of Saudi Arabia (Hymenoptera: Aculeata)

An illustrated key to the potter wasps (Eumenidae) collected from the Jeddah region (West of Saudi Arabia) is given. It includes 15 species and subspecies, of which four species and one subspecies are new to the fauna of Saudi Arabia. These are: Allodynerus vinciguerrae, Antepipona sp., Delta esuriens, Knemodynerus excellens, and Rhynchium oculatum distinguendum. This key is followed by an annotated list that provides synonyms, local and geographical distributions.

Herrichtung und Abtransport von Lehmkügelchen durch die Töpfer-Grabwespe Sceliphron spirifex (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae)

In September 2000, in Alcudia (Mallorca), the thread-waisted potter wasp Sceliphron spirifex (Linnaeus 1758) was observed, and using video, photographic, and audio techniques, documented whilst forming globules of building material at a spot with seepage water on sandy clay soil, and during flight departure carrying the globules. The globules were formed in four phases: (1) local examination, (2) preparation of the uptake place, (3) uptake of building material, (4) positioning of material for departure. The phases are described qualitatively. Mean duration of phases 2-4 depends on the condition of the soil and is approximately 18 ± 4 s (wet soft soil) to 23 ± 7 s (moist firm soil). During departure flight with a globule, wing stroke frequency is 126 ± 4 s -1 , Flight speed, while climbing at 30°-45°, immediately after take-off is approx I m s -1 , full flight speed is 5-6 m s -1 . The globule is kept between mandibles, first pair of legs and region of the mentum. The compensation of the yawing moment induced by the globule will be discussed in a following paper.

Structure and biological activities of eumenine mastoparan-AF (EMP-AF), a new mast cell degranulating peptide in the venom of the solitary wasp ( Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado)

A new mast cell degranulating peptide, eumenine mastoparan-AF (EMP-AF), was isolated from the venom of the solitary wasp Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado, the most common eumenine wasp found in Japan. The structure was analyzed by FAB-MS/MS together with Edman degradation, which was corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. The sequence of EMP-AF, Ile–Asn–Leu–Leu–Lys–Ile–Ala–Lys–Gly–Ile–Ile–Lys–Ser–Leu–NH 2, was similar to that of mastoparan, a mast cell degranulating peptide from a hornet venom; tetradecapeptide with C-terminus amidated and rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids. In fact, EMP-AF exhibited similar activity to mastoparan in stimulating degranulation from rat peritoneal mast cells and RBL-2H3 cells. It also showed significant hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes. Therefore, this is the first example that a mast cell degranulating peptide is found in the solitary wasp venom. Besides the degranulation and hemolytic activity, EMP-AF also affects on neuromuscular transmission in the lobster walking leg preparation. Three analogs EMP-AF-1∼3 were snythesized and biologically tested together with EMP-AF, resulting in the importance of the C-terminal amide structure for biological activities.

Taxonomic review of genusStenodynerusSaussure (Eumeninae, Vespidae, Hymenoptera) with description of a new species in Korea

Ten Korean eumenine wasp species of the genus Stenodynerus, including one new species and six newly recorded species (Stenodynerus chinensis simillimus, S. coreanus, S. clypeopictus, S. funebris, S. frauenfeldi, S. kalinowskii, S. pappi, S. pullus, S. tergitus sp. nov., S. tokyanus) from Korea were taxonomically reviewed. The male of S. pappi was collected for the first time. Additional characters to distinguish several congeners were also discussed.

Luminescence dating of rock art and past environments using mud-wasp nests in northern Australia

Mud-nesting wasps are found in all of the main biogeographical regions of the world1,2,3, and construct nests that become petrified after abandonment. Nests built by mud-dauber and potter wasps in rock shelters in northern Australia1,4 often overlie, and occasionally underlie, prehistoric rock paintings. Mud nests contain pollen, spores and phytoliths from which information about local palaeovegetation can be gleaned. Here we report a new application of optical dating5,6,7, using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating of pollen8 to determine the ages of mud-wasp nests associated with rock paintings in the Kimberley region of Western Australia9,10. Optical dating of quartz sand (including the analysis of individual grains) embedded in the mud of fossilized nests shows that some anthropomorphic paintings are more than 17,000 years old. Reconstructions of past local environments are also possible from the range of pollen and phytolith types identified. This approach should have widespread application to studies of rock-art dating and late Quaternary environmental change on continents where mud-wasps once lived and other sources of palaeoecological information are absent.

Cephalic foveae of eumenine wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Investigation of the cephalic foveae on the vertex of many female eumenine wasps, indicates that these depressions represent external openings of paired dermal glands. The function of this secretory system remains unknown, but it probably plays a role in mating. Presence of foveae in addition to modifications of the hypothesized primitive state, including coalescence of the foveae into a single opening, increased development of foveal setae, greater foveal separation and partial or complete foveal regression, are often useful indicators of phylogenetic relationship among various eumenine taxa.

A character analysis of the North American potter wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Eumeninae)

A cladistic analysis of the nearctic genera of Eumeninae is presented. The ground plan states of 43 character systems are discussed, and the first comprehensive cladogram for any significant portion of the subfamily is presented. At least eight of the 26 genera are apparently nonmonophyletic: Zethus, Montezumia, Euodynerus, Odynerus, Pterocheilus, Stenodynerus, Leptochilus and Microdynerus. A key to the nearctic genera accompanies the text.

The nesting biology and population dynamics of the Seychelles potter wasp Eumenes alluaudi Perez

Abstract. 1. The nesting biology of the solitary potter wasp Eumenes alluaudi was studied on Cousin Island, Seychelles.2. Although the rainy season was from October to April there was no indication of strong seasonality in the wasps' nesting.3. Females tended to nest close to where other females were nesting.4. The mean number of cells per nest was 3.71, the mean number of nests made per female 135, and the percentage of cells from which adults emerged 65.87; thus the mean number of adult wasps emerging from the nest(s) of each breeding female was 3.29.5. Male‐producing eggs were laid before female‐producing eggs and the estimated sex ratio at emergence was, at 1:2.52, female biassed. It is possible that inbreeding occurred.6. Daily mortality of nesting females was estimated as 0.088.7. The mean interval between a female's emergence and her starting to nest was 19.7 days.8. Marking showed that only 26.7 ± 6.3% of females emerging from cells in the study area returned to breed there. Since the number of emerging daughters per breeding female was only 5.01 times 0.66 times 0.72 = 2.36 (fecundity x proportion emerging x proportion of females emerging), the number of returning females would be only 236 times 0.267 = 0.63, and hence, in order to maintain numbers over many generations, 037 females must have been immigrants.

Population Dynamics and Nesting Behaviour of Eumenes colona (Hymenoptera) in Jamaica

The biology of the potter wasp Eumenes colona Saussure is similar to many other cogeneric species. Nest sites are selected to protect cells from rain and to receive sun. Porous limestones and annual rainfall > 1905 mm limit nest distribution in Jamaica. Minimum fecundity was 7.14 ? 2.79 eggs per nesting female. Developmental mortality averaged 40.5 %. Melittobia chalybii Ashmead (Eulophidae) and Amobia floridensis (Townsend) (Calliphoridae), acting density-dependently, caused 55.40% and 14.5 % mortality, respectively. Pre-productive females showed at least 22.5 % mortality in areas of low density. Pachodynerus nasidens Latr. and Monobia mochii Soika (Eumenidae) are inquilines in old cells and since both are host to M. chalybii, probably increase its predation on E. colona. Sceliphron assimile Dahlbom (Sphecidae) is more abundant than E. colona, but does not compete for nesting sites. A similar development mortality (40.1 %) to Eumenes, is not responsible for its greater abundance.

Ruptor Ovi, the Number of Moults in Development, and Method ofExit From Masoned Nests. Biology of Eumenine Wasps. VII

Ruptor Ovi, the Number of Moults in Development, and Method ofExit From Masoned Nests. Biology of Eumenine Wasps. VII