Polistinae
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Mischocyttarus |
The Polistinae are eusocial wasps closely related to the more familiar yellowjackets, but placed in their own subfamily; it is the second most diverse subfamily within Vespidae, and while most species are tropical or subtropical, they include some of the most frequently-encountered large wasps in temperate regions. They are also known as paper wasps, which is a misleading term since other wasps (including yellowjackets) also build nests out of paper, and because some Polistine wasps (e.g., Polybia emaciata) build theirs out of mud [1]. Moreover, the name paper wasp seems to apply mostly, but not exclusively, to the Polistinae.
Characteristic of Polistinae are:
- queens (reproductive females) morphologically similar to workers
- the abdomen is spindle-shaped, often petiolate
- the antennae of males are curled
- the nest is typically open (the nests of vespines are typically enclosed in several layers of paper)
[edit] Colony life cycle
Polistine wasps found colonies in one of two ways. In some species, nests are founded by a small number of reproductive females, possibly a single one. One of the foundresses eventually acquires dominance over the other and is the sole reproducer. The nest is open (not enclosed by an envelope) and contains a single comb. Image:Ropalidia.jpg In the other group, called swarm-founding, the nest is founded by a large number of workers and a few queens. It is usually protected by an envelope, like a vespine nest.
[edit] Species of Polistinae
- Genus Polistes
- P. bellicosus
- P. bischoffi
- P. carolinus
- P. dominulus
- P. humilis
- P. tepidus
- Genus Polybia
- P. emaciata
- P. occidentalis
- Genus Mischocyttarus
- M. collarellus
- M. flavitarsis
- M. labiatus
- Genus Ropalidia
- R. revolutionalis
