Parischnogaster striatula
| Parischnogaster striatula | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Suborder: | Vespoidea |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Stenogastrinae |
| Genus: | Parischnogaster |
| Species: | P. striatula |
| Binomial name | |
|
Parischnogaster striatula (du Buysson, 1905) |
|
Parischnogaster striatula is a species of social hover wasps found in Southeast Asia. Their nests are uniquely shaped, mimic their surroundings and, like the other Stenogastrinae social wasps, lack a nest pedicel. They are also unique in their use of glandular secretion when laying eggs. P. striatula is also different than typical wasps because the queens are not the only ones who possess reproductive capabilities; other females also have developed ovaries. This wasp is also known for fiercely protecting its nest against enemies, such as ants or other hornets.
P. striatula is under the subfamily Stenogastrinae, sometimes known as hover wasps. While the Stenogastrinae taxonomy and phylogeny are still under study, it is known that Parischnogaster species are split into two subcategories, with P. striatula being closely related to P. alternata. Together, these two species make up the striatula group.
P. striatula has black pigmentation on its clypeus, with black inner and outer eye stripes, and mandibles. The adults are recognizable by their distinctive hovering flight.
Their nests lack a nest pedicel, and implant on thread-like suspensions such as rootlets, thin stems and artificial wires. They consist of cells spirally arranged around a central tube, and are constructed from mud, mud mixed with chewed vegetable material, or paper.P. striatula colonies do not contain many individuals, therefore the nests are small in size.
P. striatula is a commonly found species in Southeast Asia, specifically the Indo-Malaysian area. Their unique nests are found in areas sheltered from rain, including along forest roads or trails, under the vaults of caves, and human buildings such as a gazebo. While it is possible to find some nests close together, they do not form aggregations.
The colonies are typically small; most do not exceed a dozen individuals. Each colony will not exceed five females. There are two distinct times of major activity, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Social interactions are more frequent during the middle of the day, between off-nest activity peaks, when many females return to the nest.
The colony consists of one dominant female, one or two other non-dominant females, and males. The dominant females are usually located at the top of the nest, with the non-dominant females in the middle, and males at the lower part of the nest near the entrance. There is no visual status badge among the females; females with developed ovaries look identical to females with underdeveloped ovaries. What separates the dominant females from the non-dominant females is the size of their ovaries. The female P. striatula with the largest ovaries becomes the dominant female of the colony.
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Wikipedia