Notes on Colony Composition in the Social Wasp Mischocyttarus baconi (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Authors

  • Andrea A. Scobie Department of Biology, University of the Southern Caribbean, Maracas St Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Christopher K. Starr Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

Keywords:

Founding stage

Abstract

Aspects of colony composition during the founding stage of the colony cycle are described for Mischocyttarus baconi, based on 20 colonies studied in Trinidad, West Indies. About half of our colonies were founded by a single adult female, the others by up to five females. Colony growth in this stage is slow, with a high rate of failure. We found no evidence that larger founding groups build larger nests, on average.

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Published

2016-12-31

Issue

Living World 2016

Section

Research Papers