Polybia rejecta
| Polybia rejecta | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Superfamily: | Vespoidea |
| Family: | Eumenidae |
| Genus: | Polybia |
| Species: | P. rejecta |
| Binomial name | |
|
Polybia rejecta (Fabricius, 1798) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
P. belizensis Cameron, 1906 |
|
P. belizensis Cameron, 1906
P. bicolor Smith, 1857
P. javaryensis Cameron, 1906
P. litoralsis Zavattari, 1905
Polybia rejecta is a species of social wasp found in the Neotropics region of the world. It was discovered by Fabricius in South America in the 1790s. The wasp is associated with many other organisms, particularly specific species of ants and birds such as the Azteca ants and the cacique birds. This association is most beneficial to the ants and birds because of the aggressive protective nature of the wasp. The wasps will protect their nest even if it means death against any predator that approaches it and therefore this means that the association also protects the ants and birds. Additionally, the wasp is known for eating the eggs of red eyed tree frogs as a main way of subsistence. It also, like many other wasp species, has a caste system of queens and workers that is evident by difference in body size among the wasps; the biggest female becomes the queen.
Polybia rejecta is a social wasp in the genus Polybia, which is composed of eusocial wasps in South America, particularly Brazil and Argentina. The eusocial characteristics seen in this wasp species are the presence of cooperative brood care, division of labor between non-reproductive and reproductive individuals, and overlapping of generations in the colony. Polybia comprises over eighty other wasp species. It was discovered by Fabricius in 1798 in South America. This species is part of the family Eumenidae, otherwise known as potter wasps. These wasps tend to build their nests underground or in the open. The name "potter nest" comes from the shape of the mud nests built by these types of wasps.
The wasp Polybia rejecta is predominantly found in Costa Rica and Panama. It has also been found in areas of Peru and scattered regions along the oceanic border of Brazil. The typical climate that P. rejecta occupies in the Atlantic forest of Brazil is hot and humid. There are two distinct seasons, one being hot/humid and the other being dry/cool. In general, this area gets precipitation of 1350 to 1900 mm a year with the altitude ranging between 236–515 meters.Polybia rejecta has been found in the vicinity of a species of frogs called A. callidryas in the Brazilian Amazon region. This association is also present with specific ant species. Both of these species use the wasp's aggressive tendencies as protection against predators.
...
Wikipedia