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A Review of the Taxonomy, Biology and Distribution of the Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of the Indian Subcontinent

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Journal of the Indian Institute of Science Aims and scope

Abstract

A review of the taxonomy, biology and distribution of social wasps belonging to the subfamilies Vespinae, Polistinae and Stenogastrinae of the following 7 countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives is provided here. In India, there are at least 104 species of social wasps out of about 1100 known species worldwide and they belong to 13 genera. Polistes is the largest genus with 42 species followed by the genus Ropalidia with 27 species. Each species is provided with its current taxonomic status, along with notes on ecology, biology and distribution on the Indian subcontinent. The study of social wasps is important in several ways, as they form valuable groups to understand the evolution of social life at different levels.

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Acknowledgements

Thresiamma Varghese expresses her gratitude to Prof. Raghavendra Gadagkar for his constant encouragement and support. She sincerely thanks Prof. Rohini Balakrishnan for the financial support and the chairman, Prof. Praveen Karanth for providing necessary facilities at the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Girish Kumar is grateful to Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata and Dr. V.D. Hegde, Officer-in-Charge, Zoological Survey of India, Kozhikode for providing facilities and encouragements.

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  1. Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 012, India

    Thresiamma Varghese

  2. Zoological Survey of India, Western Ghat Regional Centre, Kozhikode, Kerala, 673006, India

    P. Girish Kumar

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TV contributed the introduction, analysis of the results, ecology, biology and their relevant images. GK contributed the research methodology, taxonomy and distribution part of the results, the corresponding references, and their relevant images. Both the authors have contributed to the preparation and review of the manuscript.

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Varghese, T., Kumar, P.G. A Review of the Taxonomy, Biology and Distribution of the Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) of the Indian Subcontinent. J Indian Inst Sci 103, 1019–1047 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-023-00411-7

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