Apoica
| Apoica | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| nest of Apoica pallens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Tribe: | Epiponini |
| Genus: |
Apoica Lepeletier, 1836 |
| Type species | |
|
Apoica pallida Olivier, 1791 |
|
| Species | |
|
11 described species, see text |
|
11 described species, see text
Apoica is a genus of eusocial paper wasps found throughout the Central and South American tropics. These wasps are truly nocturnal, carrying out their foraging activities after the setting of the sun. They prefer to construct their nests, which have an open comb like many paper wasps, under large leaves, or in shrubs. During the day, wasps covering the comb fan their wings to cool the nest, keeping it at a suitable temperature for larval development.
When attacking prey, Apoica release a drop of venom from their stings, which in turn attracts any nearby wasps to attack.
Pickett, K. M. and J. W. Wenzel. 2007. Revision and cladistic analysis of the nocturnal social wasp genus, Apoica Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini). American Museum Novitates, Number 3562, 30 pp.
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