Social Wasp Species Research Articles

A new species of social wasp from Madagascar with an inverted nest architecture (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Ropalidia jemmaesp. nov. is described from the protected Ankafobe evergreen forest in central Madagascar. This species is characterized by a variable black and green body colour pattern and a unique nest architecture within the genus Ropalidia. The nests of this species have an inverted cell opening orientation that exposes the cell bottoms outwardly, mimics the tree bark, and provides excellent visual nest concealment.

Sugar responsiveness could determine foraging patterns in yellowjackets

Sympatric-related species often exhibit resource partitioning. This can occur through different mechanisms, such as behavioral, morphological, and sensory variations, leading to qualitative, temporal, or spatial differences in resource exploitation, such as consuming different types of food. Sensory-based niche partitioning could be the underlying mechanism through which closely related species effectively reduce niche overlap. Here we ask whether variations in sensory responses to carbohydrates could reflect differences in the foraging patterns of two Vespula species present in Patagonia. For this, we established (i) the response thresholds toward carbohydrate solutions of foraging V. germanica and V. vulgaris in the laboratory, (ii) the sugar concentration of foraged carbohydrates in the field, and (iii) possible effects of incoming sugar concentration and performance at individual and colony levels. Results indicate a higher sucrose response threshold in V. germanica than V. vulgaris. Field results indicate that higher carbohydrate concentrations foraged by V. germanica, with 57% of V. germanica foragers returning with concentrations above 50% w/w, while only 23% of V. vulgaris foragers did so. These differences in sucrose sensitivity and foraging patterns positively correlate with colony size, irrespective of the species. Our results suggest that competition could be reduced in these closely related invasive social wasp species through sensory differences in their sugar perception levels, which would lead to them foraging different carbohydrate sources. This study suggests that sensory niche partitioning could promote species coexistence in these social wasps.

Nuevos registros de depredación de Samea multiplicalis (Guenée, 1854) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) por avispas sociales (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) sobre Salvinia auriculata (Aublet, 1775) (Salviniales: Salviniaceae) en Brasil

Social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) are well known for their potential in the biological control of crop pests. However, there is a lack of information about the role of these insects in maintaining trophic balance in natural ecosystems. This study reports new records of predation of Samea multiplicalis by social wasps on Salvinia auriculata (Salviniaceae) plants in Campos das Vertentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Five species of social wasps were found predating on S. multiplicalis: Polybia scutellaris, P. ignobilis, P. fastidiosuscula, Brachygastra lecheguana, and Protonectarina sylveirae, the last four of which represent unpublished records of this interaction.

Nectários extra-florais de Sapium obovatum (Euphorbiaceae) como recurso alimentar de vespas sociais

Social wasps can feed on a wide variety of animal and plant resources, however, there is little information available in the literature on the use of extra-floral nectaries (EFNs) as a food resource. In this regard, the present study aims to record the occurrence of visitation by social wasps in NEFs of Sapium obovatum Klotzsch ex Müll.Arg. in southeastern Brazil. The record took place on January 1 and 11, 2023, in a swampy area of ​​a pasture in the urban area of ​​the municipality of Ritápolis, Minas Gerais. Three species of social wasps were recorded: Polybia fastidiosuscula Saussure, 1854, Polybia scutellaris (White, 1841) and Protopolybia sedula (Saussure, 1854) visiting the NEFs of Sapium obovatum. Our results point to a generalist nature of foraging by social wasps, however further studies are suggested to understand this interaction.

Fluctuation in the richness of social wasps throughout a large construction project

Since some social wasp species are sensitive to environmental changes and can be used as bioindicators, the objective of the present study was to analyze the variation in the fauna of social wasps during the phases: before, during, and after completion, as well as to validate the use of wasps as a tool for monitoring the impacts generated by the implantation of the Botanical Garden of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora. Social wasps were sampled through active searching methods, searching for nests and attractive traps in the years 2011 and 2012 (before the construction), 2013, 2014, and 2016 (during the construction), and 2019 (after the construction and opening of the Botanical Garden). The richness and similarity of the species varied over the years, and it was possible to identify resistant and sensitive species to the impact caused by the implantation of the Botanical Garden. Studies with social wasp fauna conducted over many years in the same area can be an efficient tool in monitoring impacts; in addition, it is necessary to have a partnership between researchers and the management of the enterprises to mitigate the effects caused by guidelines and environmental education.

Passive heat diffusion in nests with downward-facing cells: Implications for early colony development in social wasps

Social insects employ a variety of active and passive mechanisms for nest thermoregulation. Many social wasp species exhibit a particular nest-architecture by building their nests with cells facing downward. By using thermal imaging to characterize the heat diffusion throughout Oriental hornet nests from different angular positions, we show that the heat diffusion along the vertical gradient of nests is more efficient when the cell openings face downward than when facing sideways or upward, demonstrating the efficiency of this specific architecture in increasing the nest temperature. This passive thermoregulation mechanism could be especially important during the initial stage of the colony, when the queen is alone to rear her first brood. Among the social insects that build cells to raise their brood, we suggest that wasps can take advantage of the thermal benefits of this particular architecture of their cells as, unlike bees, they do not usually store food in them.

Description of a new species of social wasp from Somalia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Description of a new species of social wasp from Somalia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Host Range Expansion of Nest-Parasitic Moths Pyralis regalis and Hypsopygia mauritialis in Social Wasp Nests: New Findings and Implications for Biological Control

Parasitic moths are common in social wasp (Hymenoptera) nests, attacking many species of Polistinae and a few species of Vespinae. In the Republic of Korea, two moth species are known to parasitize the brood of Polistes rothneyi koreanus: Pyralis regalis (Pyralidae) and Anatrachyntis japonica (Cosmopterigidae). Although previously reported elsewhere, a novel case of parasitization was recently documented in the Republic of Korea, in which Hypsopygia mauritialis (Pyralidae) was identified in the nests of social wasps. Pyralis regalis is the most common parasitic moth in the Republic of Korea, feeding on the nests of 11 species of social wasps, mostly the Korean Vespa species. To that list of hosts, we add a species of Dolichovespula and two species of Polistes. Parasitism of Vespa velutina nigrithorax, an invasive alien hornet, by both P. regalis and H. mauritialis, was observed for the first time. However, their potential to control invasive alien hornets is expected to be low. This study provides new insights into the diversity of nest-parasitic moths in social wasp nests and their hosts in the Republic of Korea, and highlights the potential for these moths to impact pest populations.

Avispas sociales (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) asociadas a plantaciones de Eucalyptus sp. en un Campo de Altitud situado en el sur del Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

In Brazil, there is little information about social wasp communities in Altitude Fields (Campos de Altitude), a phytophysiognomy of the Atlantic Forest with a high rate of endemism, which is being altered and reduced in area by human activities, such as the cultivation of Eucalyptus spp. Therefore, the present study aimed to inventory the species of Polistinae (Vespidae) presente in an Altitude Field associated with Eucalyptus sp. plantations in the municipality of Poços de Caldas, Southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. The study was conducted in Morro do Ferro, central region of the Poços de Caldas Plateau, from 2020 to 2021, using active search and Malaise traps. Thirteen species of social wasps were recorded, which have a wide geographic distribution, and explore anthropic environments, such as agricultural areas, pasture and Eucalyptus sp. plantations. Many of them behave as synanthropic, suggesting this altitude field to be a degraded area in Poços Caldas, MG. However, further studies must be carried out in the region, in order to know and preserve these remaining ecosystems.

The importance of legal reserve for predator social wasp diversity in an agroecosystem in the Brazilian Cerrado

ABSTRACT Social wasps play an important role in controlling agricultural pests. The present study aimed to investigate the differences in abundance, species richness and composition of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) between a Cerrado legal reserve, edge and agricultural matrix in an agricultural farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil. We delimited three transects and used Malaise traps which remained active for 48 hours, and were distributed equidistant over five distances from the edge to the legal reserve and agricultural matrix. In total, we collected 618 individuals and 31 species of social wasps. Our results showed that social wasp abundance was similar between the legal reserve and agricultural matrix during three stages and species richness only non-cropping stage. A similar pattern was observed for composition similarity, which presented a lower value between the legal reserve and agricultural matrix during the non-cropping stage. Our results indicate that although monoculture areas can offer food resources and be attractive to social wasps during the active cropping stages, these areas cannot host and conserve the diversity of social wasps. Legal reserve areas, for maintaining the diversity and ecosystem services provided by social wasps.

A checklist of social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) from Tocantins state, Brazil

Tocantins state has high biodiversity and a high degree of endemism, nevertheless, there are no studies on the diversity of social wasps. This study introduces a survey of social wasps actively collected using entomological nets and Malaise trap in addition to different light traps in sixteen sites in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes in Tocantins state, Brazil. We sampled a total of 1,013 social wasps distributed in 57 species of 13 genera. Fifty of these species and nine genera represent new distribution records for the state. Some species are not commonly found in collections and lists of species, and Protopolybia picteti (de Saussure, 1854) is newly recorded for Brazil. Such an increase of 714% may indicate that Polistinae richness is probably higher in the studied regions and that the state of Tocantins may well contain several additional (yet unrecorded) social wasp species. More comprehensive studies should be conducted to enhance the knowledge of wasp species in this state, contributing to our understanding of the biodiversity in Northern Brazil.

New manipulation records of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) behavior by the entomopathogenic Ophiocordyceps Petch (Hypocreales: Ophiocordycipitaceae) fungus

ABSTRACT The knowledge of entomopathogenic fungus in social wasps is limited, however, association appears to be more common than past thinking. In this study, we recorded the occurrence of eight social wasp species infected: Agelaia fulvofasciata, Agelaia testacea, Apoica cf. pallida, Polistes rufiventris, Polybia dimidiata, Polybia liliacea, Polybia striata, Synoeca virginea, Polistes (Aphanilopterus), and one Mischocyttarus (Mischocyttarus) morphotypes by Ophiocordyceps sphecocephala for the first, and added some new geographic range extension records for the already reported association of Ophiocordyceps humbertii for some locations in the Neotropics with a brief behavioral diagnosis of the species.

Effect of forest fragment size on Polistinae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in a transitional area of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in south central Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Ecosystem fragmentation negatively affects biological diversity and compromises different environmental services. This situation occurs in two important biomes in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado. There is little information on the effects of fragmentation on animal taxa, including social wasps. It was hypothesized that fragments that are small in size and subject to anthropogenic pressures have reduced social wasp richness and colony numbers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of forest fragmentation on Polistinae richness and colony number at Atlantic Forest and Cerrado sites in southern central Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil. The study was conducted in three fragments, Mata do Baú, Cachoeira da Lajinha, and Cachoeira do Padeiro, from October 2020 to March 2021, using active collection to record social wasp species and colony numbers. A total of 42 species and 80 colonies were recorded in the three fragments. Forest fragment size alone did not influence social wasp communities, but communities were significantly affected by a combination of factors, including fragment size, adjacent vegetation, and anthropogenic pressures. Species richness was higher in Mata do Baú and Cachoeira da Lajinha, which did not differ from each other, than in Cachoeira do Padeiro; however, all fragments had exclusive communities. Therefore, an increase in anthropogenic pressure in any of the three fragments may lead to losses in social wasp species.

Climate change negatively affects Amazonian social wasps

Abstract The impact of climate change is intensifying in Amazonia through, among other causes, the higher frequency of both severe droughts and floods due to El Niño and La Niña events as well as an Atlantic influence. Over a 25-year period (1997–2021) we examined in French Guiana the impact of different climatic parameters on the most frequent social wasp, Polybia bistriata (Polistinae). As it commonly nests on Clusia grandiflora (Clusiaceae), its nests are easily found. Heavy rainfall, particularly during the 1999–2000 La Niña episode, negatively affected this social wasp species as the percentage of Clusia sheltering an active P. bistriata nest decreased from ≈ 40% during the pre-2000 period to zero in 2021. We conclude that extreme wet seasons related to climate change translated into the decline of this species and likely were detrimental to many other polistine wasps of north-eastern Amazonia.

Anthropic action affects the cuticular chemical profile of social wasps

As a result of environmental change by anthropic action, animal species that inhabit these areas may suffer the effects of it on their phenotypes as a consequence of adapting to these conditions. In the case of social wasps, cuticular chemical compounds may be influenced, since these vary depending on genetic and environmental factors. However, few studies have investigated the synanthropic effects over the cuticular surface of social wasps. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how cuticular compounds vary according to the different degrees of human activity and test the hypothesis that cuticular compounds of social wasps are affected by the level of anthropic activity in which their nests are found. Data on the cuticular chemical compounds composition of colonies of 3 species of social wasps were used along with the level of anthropization of their nesting sites in four municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From the geographical coordinates of the sampling sites, the percentages of urban construction areas, agriculture, water body, vegetation and exposed land were calculated, and the nesting sites of the colonies were classified as more or less anthropized areas. The chemical profile was determined by extraction of cuticular compounds and analyzed by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The results show that the cuticular chemical composition of the individuals of these species is affected by the level of anthropization in their nesting sites, with a qualitative and quantitative variation that must be tied not only to genetic differences, but, above all, to the local environmental conditions to which their colonies are subjected.

Assessment of an inexpensive trap design and survey method for vespine wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Vespinae)

The introduction of the predatory Giant Asian Hornet, Vespa mandarinia Smith, to North America in 2019 has motivated efforts to create early detection systems for this and other non-native social wasp species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Various trap and bait combinations have been used for this purpose, most of which require assembly and materials that are costly, reducing their usefulness in large-scale survey systems. This study tests an inexpensive and efficient trapping technique for detecting or surveying vespine wasps. Traps were made from reused plastic bottles containing a brown sugar and water bait. They were deployed at heights ranging from 0–6 m above ground in several configurations. Captures for traps suspended 1 m or greater above ground were, on average, nine times higher than the catch of ground-level traps. A rapid trap deployment method for large geographic areas was created, which captured seven different vespine wasp species along a 395 km east-west road transect from mountains to coastal plain in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The trapping design and survey methodology described below is inexpensive and fast and could be used by land managers or citizen scientists to detect V. mandarinia, other exotic vespine, or conducted on a large-scale vespine diversity survey.

The complete mitochondrial genome of a medical important wasp, Vespa magnifica (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Vespa magnifica (Smith) is an aggressive social wasp species of Vespidae family. This species is of medical importance for its dangerous sting, traditional medicinal use and valuable venom components. Here, a complete mitogenome of V. magnifica was presented. It was 16,730 bp in length with nucleotide composition of AT: 79.4% and CG: 20.6%. In total, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA, and two ribosomal RNA genes were annotated in this mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using V. magnifica with 20 other species of Vespidae. The result indicated those species of genus Vespa fell into a paraphyletic group. Moreover, the Vespa species with large body size were clustered into a clade. This mitogenome resource can contribute to further phylogenetic and taxonomic study on genus Vespa.

Expression profiles of venom components in some social hymenopteran species over different post-capture periods

To explore and compare the expression patterns of venom components depending on post-capture periods, venom gland-specific transcriptome and proteome analyses were conducted for five model hymenopteran species at a series of time points after capture. Venom gland-specific genes with signal sequences were considered as putative venom component genes. Expression patterns of venom gland-specific genes in all the social wasps and bees examined varied considerably depending on the post-capture period. Higher numbers of venom genes exhibited a decreasing expression pattern than an increasing pattern as the capture period increased. For example, genes encoding most of the allergens (dipeptidyl peptidase 4, endocuticle structural glycoprotein, odorant-binding protein, phospholipase A1, A2, B1, serine protease, serine protease inhibitor and venom allergen 5), pain-producing factor (mast cell degranulating peptide), and paralyzing factor (neprilysin) commonly exhibited decreasing expression patterns in all of the hymenopteran species tested, except for some of the major venom genes in Apis mellifera and Bombus ignitus, which showed an increasing pattern. These findings indicate species- or group-specific variations in the expression patterns of major venom genes. Taken together, flash freezing in liquid nitrogen immediately after capture was determined to be the best way to obtain the most natural expression profiles of venom components in social wasp species, thus, enabling a better understanding of the toxic potential of venom in wasp sting accidents. This study provides guidance for establishing optimal protocols for venom gland isolation and venom extraction from wasps and bees that can ensure the most naturally represented venom composition.

‘Citizen identification’: online learning supports highly accurate species identification for insect‐focussed citizen science

Abstract Citizen science is widely used in ecological research. Data verification of citizen collected data continues to be an issue, and confirming accurate species identification reported by citizens can be especially difficult. Here, we determine the efficacy of using remote learning to identify UK social wasp (Vespinae) species. Citizen scientists (N = 559) collected wasps and identified specimens to species level using a series of online videos and support material. A pre‐ and post‐identification questionnaire, and a post‐identification assessment test, obtained both qualitative and quantitative data for engagement and changes in identification skills. Some (13.5%) of the participants sent their samples in for expert verification of species identification. Self‐assessed skill ratings increased from 2.2/5 pre‐identification to 3.5/5 post‐identification process. Identification accuracy was high, with 85.6% of assessment test images and 96% of the verified specimens being identified correctly. In previous years, face‐to‐face public ID workshops with expert trainers yielded an identification accuracy of 91.3%. Eighty‐seven percent of participants reported enjoying the experience and would take part again. Remote learning of identification skills in non‐specialists can produce greater identification accuracy than face‐to‐face expert‐led workshops, with lower resource requirements and enhanced engagement.

A century of social wasp occupancy trends from natural history collections: spatiotemporal resolutions have little effect on model performance

ABSTRACT The current dearth of long‐term insect population trends is a major obstacle to conservation. Occupancy models have been proposed as a solution, but it remains unclear whether they can yield long‐term trends from natural history collections, since specimen records are normally very sparse. A common approach for sparse data is to coarsen its spatial and/or temporal resolution, although coarsening risks violating model assumptions. We (i) test whether occupancy trends of three social wasp (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) species – the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris), the German wasp (Vespula germanica) and the European hornet (Vespa crabro) – have changed in England between 1900 and 2016, and (ii) test the effect of spatiotemporal resolution on the performance of occupancy models using very sparse data. All models are based on an integrated dataset of occurrence records and natural history collection specimen records. We show that occupancy models can yield long‐term species‐specific trends from very sparse natural history collection specimens. We present the first quantitative trends for three Vespinae species in England over 116 years. Vespula vulgaris and V. germanica show stable trends over the time series, whilst V. crabro's occupancy decreased from 1950 to 1970 and increased since 1970. Moreover, we show that spatiotemporal resolution has little effect on model performance, although coarsening the spatial grain is an appropriate method for achieving enough records to estimate long‐term changes. With the increasing availability of biological records, the model formulation used here has the potential to provide novel insights by making use of natural history collections' unique specimen assemblages.