Polistes semenowi
| Polistes semenowi | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Tribe: | Polistini |
| Genus: | Polistes |
| Species: | P. semenowi |
| Binomial name | |
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Polistes semenowi Morawitz, 1889 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Polistes semenowi is a kleptoparasitic paper wasp that is found in several regions of high altitude in Europe. As one of only three obligate parasites in the genus Polistes, it uses the nests of other paper wasps (primarily Polistes dominula) to rear its young. In order to evade detection by the host nest, P. semenowi employs mimicry by adjusting its cuticular hydrocarbons to match those of the host. Once the host nest has been infiltrated, the parasitic female will physically attack the host queen in order to subdue her and become the colony's new queen. P. semenowi displays several morphological adaptations for parasitism such as increased mandible size and an enlarged Van der Vecht's organ. This species is unusual because it does not have the ability to produce workers and is only able to produce individuals who have the capacity to reproduce..
Due to its morphological differences from other Polistes species, Polistes semenowi was placed in a separate genus Sulcopolistes by Blüthgen in 1938. However, in 1991 Carpenter established that this species belonged in the genus Polistes.P. semenowi is closely related to Polistes sulcifer and Polistes atrimandibularis, which are the only other obligate social parasites in the genus Polistes. Research using mitochondrial rRNA suggests that these three species descended from a common ancestor, and that they are more closely related with Polistes nimpha and Polistes dominula than with Polistes gallicus and Polistes biglumis.
P. semenowi is larger than most Polistes species, which initially caused it to be classified in a separate genus (Sulcopolistes). Both the first femur and posterior tibia of this wasp are elongated, and its mandibles are significantly thicker than those of other wasp species. Moreover, the mandibles of this species, similarly to Polistes sulcifer and Polistes atrimandibularis, are marked by a distinct groove. This wasp species also has distinctive black markings on its clypeus, the function of which is currently unclear.
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