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Interactions Between Wasps and Other Animals: Associations and Natural Enemies

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Neotropical Social Wasps

Abstract

Some social wasp species are known for their interactions and associations with vertebrates, invertebrates, and other insects in general. In this chapter, we will therefore focus on the interspecific interactions performed by wasps and other animals in order to present the types of interactions, as well as some of the species involved. We list some harmonious relations, like the Polybia rejecta wasp and Azteca ants and Cacicus cela birds. We also list some disharmonious relations, like the parasitoids Hymenoptera in social wasps’ nests and entomopathogenic fungi, like Ophiocordyceps, which can also attack social wasps.

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Correspondence to Bruno Corrêa Barbosa .

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Barbosa, B.C., Maciel, T.T., Somavilla, A., Prezoto, F. (2021). Interactions Between Wasps and Other Animals: Associations and Natural Enemies. In: Prezoto, F., Nascimento, F.S., Barbosa, B.C., Somavilla, A. (eds) Neotropical Social Wasps. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53510-0_21

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