Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nest architecture inParischnogaster alternata Sakagami (Vespidae, Stenogastrinae), intra-specific variability in building strategies

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Insectes Sociaux Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

P. alternata is a cave-dwelling stenogastrine wasp of the South Asian rain forests; it builds two distinct types of nest which differ in substrate and other characteristics. Both types of nest were examined and compared for overall dimensions, cell size and building material. The inhabitants taken from both types of nests, were also measured. Significant differences between the two types of nests were found in cell size and percentages of inorganic and organic material. A significant difference was also found in the wing size of the inhabitants. Both nest styles are described in detail, and the evolutionary implications are discussed in terms of behavioural plasticity and the possibility of sympatric speciation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carpenter, J. M., 1988. The phylogenetic system of the Stenogastrinae (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. New York Entomol. Soc. 96:140–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coster-Longman, C., 1992. Laboratory observations on the social behaviour ofParischnogaster alternata (Vespidae, Stenogastrinae).Ethol. Ecol. Evol., in press.

  • Gordon, J. E., 1978.Structures. Penguin, Harmondsworth and New York. 395 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansell, M. H., 1984.Animal architecture and building behaviour. Longman, London and New York XI. 324 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansell, M. H., 1987. Elements of eusociality in colonies ofEustenogaster calyptodoma (Sakagami & Yoshikawa) (Stenogastrinae, Vespidae).Anim. Behav. 35:131–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansell, M. H. and S. Turrillazzi, 1991. A new Stenogastrine Nest from Papua New Guinea probably belonging to the genus Stenogaster Guerin 1831 (Hymenoptera Vespidae).Tropical Zoology 4:81–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeanne, R. L., 1975. The adaptiveness of social wasp nest architecture.Q. Rev. Bio. 50:267–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krombein, K. V., 1991. Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XIX: Natural History Notes in Several Families (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae and Crabronidae).Smithsoniun Contributions to Zoology 515: Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohgushi, R., S. F. Sakagami, S. Yamane and N. D. Abbas, 1983. Nest architecture and related notes on Stenogastrine wasps in the Province of Sumatera Barat Indonesia (Hymenoptera Vespidae).Sci. Rep. Kanazawa Univ. 28:27–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohgushi, R. and S. Yamane, 1983. Supplementary notes on the nest architecture and biology of someParischnogaster species in Sumatera Barat (Hymenoptera Vespidae).Sci. Rep. Kanazawa Univ. 28:69–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohgushi, R., S. Yamane and S. F. Sakagami, 1988. Ecological Distribution and Habitat-linked Density of Colonies of Stenogastrine Wasps in Tropical S.E. Asia.Zoological Science 5:869–874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuel C.T., 1987. Factors affecting colony size in the stenogastrine waspLiostenogaster flavolineata. Ph. D. thesis of the Fac. of Science University of Malaya. 358 pp.

  • Turillazzi, S., 1985. Associative nest foundation in the waspParischnogaster alternata.Naturwissenschaften 72:100–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turillazzi, S., 1986. Colony composition and social behaviour ofParischnogaster alternata Sakagami (Hymenoptera Stenogastrine).Monitore zool ital. (N. S.) 20:333–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turillazzi, S., 1990. Socialità ed architettura del nido nelle Vespe Stenogastrinae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).Atti dell'Accademia Nazionale Italiana di Entomologia. Rendiconti, Anno XXXVIII. pp. 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turillazzi, S., 1991, The Stenogastrinae. In:The Biology of Social Wasps. Ross and Mathews. Edit. Conell Univ. Press. pp. 74–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinson, S. B. and G. W. Frankie, 1991. Nest variability inCentris aethycetera in response to nest site conditions.J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 64:156–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel, J. W., 1991. Evolution of Nest Architecture in Social Vespids. In:The Biology of Social Wasps. Ross and Mathews Edit. Conell Univ. Press. pp. 480–519.

    Google Scholar 

  • West-Eberhard, M. J., 1986. Alternative adaptations, speciation, and phylogeny (A Review).Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. Vol. 83. pp. 1388–1392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshikawa, K., R. Ohgushi and S. F. Sakagami, 1969. Preliminary report on entomology of the Osaka City University 5th expedition to Southeast Asia 1966.Life S.E. Asia Tokyo VI:153–182.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica dell'Università di Firenze and Centro per lo Studio della Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali del C.N.R., Via Romana 17, 50125, Florence, Italy

    S. Turillazzi

Authors
  1. C. Coster-Longman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Turillazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coster-Longman, C., Turillazzi, S. Nest architecture inParischnogaster alternata Sakagami (Vespidae, Stenogastrinae), intra-specific variability in building strategies. Ins. Soc 42, 1–16 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245695

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245695

Key words

Search

Navigation