Masarinae Research Articles

Foraging Behavior of Two Pollen Wasp Species of the Genus Celonites Latreille, 1802 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae), from the Altai Mountains.

Celonites kozlovi Kostylev, 1935, and C. sibiricus Gusenleitner, 2007, coexist in semi-deserts of the Altai Mountains. The trophic relationships of these pollen wasp species to flowers are largely unknown. We observed the flower visits and behaviors of wasps on flowers; pollen-collecting structures of females were studied using SEM; the taxonomic position of these two species was ascertained with the barcoding sequence of the mitochondrial COI-5P gene. Celonites kozlovi and C. sibiricus form a clade together with C. hellenicus Gusenleitner, 1997, and C. iranus Gusenleitner, 2018, within the subgenus Eucelonites Richards, 1962. Celonites kozlovi is polylectic in the narrow sense, collecting pollen from flowers of plants belonging to five families (with the predomination of Asteraceae and Lamiaceae) using diverse methods for both pollen and nectar uptake. In addition, this species is a secondary nectar robber, which has not been observed in pollen wasps before. The generalistic foraging strategy of C. kozlovi is correlated with an unspecialized pollen-collecting apparatus on the fore-tarsi. In contrast, C. sibiricus is broadly oligolectic, predominantly collecting pollen from flowers of Lamiaceae. Its specialized foraging strategy is associated with apomorphic behavioral and morphological traits, particularly specialized pollen-collecting setae on the frons, which enable indirect pollen uptake using nototribic anthers. These adaptations in C. sibiricus evolved independently of similar specializations in the Celonites abbreviatus-complex. Celonites kozlovi is re-described, and males are described for the first time.

Morphological adaptations to silk production by adult females in the pollen wasp genus Quartinia (Masarinae, Vespidae) – a keystone character for ground nesting in dry sand habitats

While many pollen wasps nest in hard clayey soil or in rigid sand or use these kinds of substrates to build aerial earthen cells, all representatives of the genus Quartinia, in which nesting behavior has been studied so far, construct their nests in habitats with loose sand. The walls of the burrow are stabilized by a silky excretion that is applied on their inner surfaces during nest construction. The lining-behavior of Quartinia females is described. Representatives of the genus Quartinia and other pollen wasp taxa have been studied comparatively using histology, microcomputed tomography and scanning electron microscopy for identifying the structures correlated with lining-behavior. Thus, we can document a change in the morphology of the maxillary gland for females of the genus Quartinia, as well as the existence of a process of the galea which likely serves the production of the silky threads. The fact that these modifications are missing in males is corroborating their function in brood care. Two possible ways of silk thread production are discussed. The newly discovered structures are key adaptations of the genus Quartinia that enabled the inhabitation of new habitats and thus probably facilitated the species diversification of this genus.

Pollen-ovule ratios and flower visitors of day-flowering and night-flowering Conophytum (Aizoaceae) species in South Africa

In desert environments mutualistic relationships between plants and their pollinators are believed to be strongly synchronized by rainfall that triggers flowering periods. However, recent studies have shown that this might not always be the case and that the level of specialization may also play a role. Although spring is the main flowering season in Namaqualand, the winter-rainfall region of southern Africa's Succulent Karoo, a pronounced flowering peak occurs in autumn, outside of the normal winter–spring period. One example is the genus Conophytum where, in contrast to the vast majority of the Aizoaceae, most species flower in autumn before the winter rain. About 25% of the species in the genus are night-flowering, maybe as a consequence of the shift in the seasonal flowering time. We therefore studied flower visitors in 30 Conophytum species in South Africa and, for comparison of pollination systems, analysed pollen-ovule ratios in diurnal and nocturnal conophytums. Pollen wasps of the genus Quartinia (Vespidae: Masarinae) were found to be the main flower visitors in diurnal species, whereas in night-flowering species different moth species were observed. We found no significant differences between pollen-ovule ratios of diurnal and nocturnal Conophytum species, suggesting that diurnal and nocturnal pollinators are equally efficient.

A new species of Chalicodoma from Saudi Arabia with modified facial setae (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae)

Some bees and pollen wasps have independently evolved simple, stiff, erect, apically-curved, curly or hooked facial setae as adaptations to collect pollen from nototribic flowers. A distinctive new species of Chalicodoma Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau subgenus Pseudomegachile Friese from Saudi Arabia with such morphological adaptations, Chalicodoma riyadhense sp. n., is described and figured. The species was captured visiting flowers of Blepharis ciliaris (L.) (Acanthaceae). The occurrence of modified facial setae is documented and discussed for the first time in eight other species of Pseudomegachile, and a key to the genera and subgenera of Megachilini currently confirmed for Saudi Arabia is provided.

Revisiting the Brazilian fauna of masarine wasps: new records, an illustrated key to species and a description of the male of Trimeria rubra Hermes & Melo (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae)

An overview of the Brazilian fauna of pollen wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae) is made: an illustrated key for all species recorded or potentially occurring in the country is provided; the male of Trimeria rubra Hermes & Melo is described; two species (Ceramiopsis paraguayensis Bertoni and T. bequaerti Willink) are newly recorded for Brazil; three species (Paramasaris richardsi (Giordani Soika), T. rubra and T. robusta Hermes & Melo) are newly recorded for Brazilian states and flower records are given for T. rubra for the first time.

The importance of monkey beetle (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini) pollination for Aizoaceae and Asteraceae in grazed and ungrazed areas at Paulshoek, Succulent Karoo, South Africa

The relative importance of monkey beetles (Hopliini, Scarabeidae) as pollinators of Asteraceae and Aizoaceae in the Succulent Karoo as well as the influence of livestock grazing on their abundance and diversity was investigated. Hopliine beetles proved to be the, or among the, most abundant flower visitors of 12 investigated plant species. However, during single flower observations at three Aizoaceae species, bees (Apoidea), bee flies (Bombyliidae) and pollen wasps (Masaridae) were the most frequent flower visitors. However, monkey beetles carried the highest Asteraceae and Aizoaceae pollen loads, and are therefore considered to play a vital role in the pollination of these two families. Abundance, species richness and diversity of Hopliini did not appear to be heavily affected by livestock grazing. Annual variation in the composition of monkey beetle populations was more dramatic. Still, some species showed higher abundances on heavily grazed rangeland while others only occurred under low grazing pressure. It is presumed that changes in the composition of the vegetation, especially the observed decrease of perennial plants in favour of annuals and geophytes (Todd and Hoffman 1999) could in turn affect the composition of monkey beetle assemblages.

The distributions of the genera of pollen wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Masarinae) in the semi-arid to arid areas of southern Africa in relation to their requirements for successful nesting

The knowledge of the distributions, ecology and natural history of the pollen wasps (Vespidae: Masarinae) of the world has been reviewed (Gess, 1996). For the semi-arid to arid areas of southern Africa, the area with the highest species diversity of pollen wasps, the present contribution presents updated distributions of the genera and examines these in relation to the requirements for successful nesting. It shows that: the widespread, ground nesting genus Ceramius Latreille and the recently discovered Namibian ground nesting genus Priscomasaris Gess, the basal member of the Masarini, both of which require water and stable soil with a relatively high clay element for nesting, do not penetrate the true desert; the ground nesting genus Masarina Richards, with a southwestern distribution, has water dependant species but also, at least, one species which uses nectar instead of water, and, at least, one species which penetrates the desert in southern Namibia; the closely related widespread genus Jugurtia de Saussure, of which many species require water and stable soil with a relatively high clay element, may also have species which use nectar instead of water as there are two species which penetrate the desert, one in the south and one in the north of Namibia; the widespread genus Celonites Latreille, with species nesting in or above the ground on plants or stones and using nectar as a bonding agent, penetrates the desert along drainage channels; and the widespread, ground nesting genus Quartinia Ed. André, the most species diverse and smallest in size has many species which are truly successful desert dwellers. It is suggested that the reasons for the success of Quartinia species as desert dwellers are that: their small size enables them to reproduce successfully with minimal resources of provision; their remarkable ability as adults to produce self generated silk frees them from dependence on water or nectar as bonding agents in nest construction and enables them to nest in sand in nature such that it cannot be cemented with water or nectar; in windswept areas they are able to nest in small pockets of stable sand such as that trapped in snail shells; they are able to fly and forage in gale force winds; and they are able to fly at extremes of temperature, both high and low.

Distributions of flower associations of pollen wasps (Vespidae: Masarinae) in southern Africa

Recent (1996–2002) sampling by the authors of flower visitors in particular in the Richtersveld and Namibia has added considerably to the knowledge of the flower associations of pollen wasps (Vespidae: Masarinae) in southern Africa which prior to that date was largely based on sampling to the south and east of the Richtersveld and Namibia. Their earlier findings that pollen wasps in southern Africa show major preferences (based on number of species visiting a plant taxon) for Aizoaceae and Asteraceae remains unchanged, although in the northwest summer rainfall region the preference is for Aizoaceae: non-Mesembryanthema rather than Mesembryanthema. The preference shown by some for Aptosimeae (Scrophulariaceae) stands throughout the area and that for Hermannia (Malvaceae) is established for the north and southwest. Preferences for Campanulaceae (principally Wahlenbergia) and Cape Crotalarieae (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) are shown to be restricted to the southwest. Preference for Zygophyllum (Zygophyllaceae) is established for the Richtersveld and Namibia only. Limited preferences for Molluginaceae, Geraniaceae and Boraginaceae, and a single close mutualistic association between two narrow endemics, a pollen wasp and Tylecodon hallii (Tölken) Tölken (Crassulaceae), are demonstrated. A greater degree of casual visiting to a wider range of plant families was recorded for the Richtersveld and Namibia than for the southwest and southeast, however, a high degree of oligophagy to narrow polyphagy is maintained throughout.

Evolution of the suctorial proboscis in pollen wasps (Masarinae, Vespidae)

The morphology and functional anatomy of the mouthparts of pollen wasps (Masarinae, Hymenoptera) are examined by dissection, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, supplemented by field observations of flower visiting behavior. This paper focuses on the evolution of the long suctorial proboscis in pollen wasps, which is formed by the glossa, in context with nectar feeding from narrow and deep corolla of flowers. Morphological innovations are described for flower visiting insects, in particular for Masarinae, that are crucial for the production of a long proboscis such as the formation of a closed, air-tight food tube, specializations in the apical intake region, modification of the basal articulation of the glossa, and novel means of retraction, extension and storage of the elongated parts. A cladistic analysis provides a framework to reconstruct the general pathways of proboscis evolution in pollen wasps. The elongation of the proboscis in context with nectar and pollen feeding is discussed for aculeate Hymenoptera.

The Pollen Wasps: Ecology and Natural History of the Masarinae.

The Pollen Wasps: Ecology and Natural History of the Masarinae.

The Pollen Wasps: Ecology and Natural History of the Masarinae.Sarah K. Gess

Previous articleNext article No AccessNew Biological BooksThe Pollen Wasps: Ecology and Natural History of the Masarinae. Sarah K. Gess V. J. Tepedino and P. F. TorchioV. J. Tepedino Search for more articles by this author and P. F. Torchio Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Quarterly Review of Biology Volume 71, Number 4Dec., 1996 Published in association with Stony Brook University Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/419600 Views: 1Total views on this site Copyright 1996 The University of ChicagoPDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.