Summary
Mischocyttarus immarginatus often nests in association withPolybia occidentalis in the dry forest of Costa Rica. The establishment of twoM. immarginatus nests near a nest ofP. occidentalis was observed. There is competition for nesting sites by foundresses ofMischocyttarus, characterized by intense agonistic encounters. At established nests, the queens spend most of their time on the nests, constructing and inspecting nests and cells. Workers spend most of their time away from the nests. Sometimes, the queen forces a worker to leave the nest.
I hypothesize thatP. occidentalis nests in areas, such as on buildings and spiny plants, to avoid nest destruction by browsers and grazers, whileM. immarginatus nests nearP. occidentalis as the result of predator pressure from visual predators, such as birds and lizards.
Zusammenfassung
Im Trochenwald von Costa Rica nistenMischocyttarus immarginatus undPolybia occidentalis oft nahe beisammen. Zweimal wurde beobachtet wieM. immarginatus ein Nest vonP. occidentalis gründete. NestgründendeM. immarginatus Königinen an potentiellen Nistorten heftig miteinander kämpften. Die Königinen verwenden den grössten Teil ihrer Zeit auf den fertigen Nesten mit Bauen und Inspizieren. Arbeiterinen halten sich meist entfernt vom Nest auf. Manchmal zwingte die Königin eine Arbeiterin das Nest zu verlassen.
Ich schlage vor, dassP. occidentalis an Häusern und stacheligen Pflanzen nistet, um Nestzerstörung durch weidende Grossäuger zu vermeiden.M. immarginatus, dagegen, nistet naheP. occidentalis, um sicher vor Nesträubern, wie Vögeln und Eidechsen, zu sein.
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Gorton, R.E. Observations on the nesting behavior ofMischocyttarus immarginatus (Rich.) (Vespidae: Hymenoptera) in a dry forest in Costa Rica. Ins. Soc 25, 197–204 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224741
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02224741