Nesting of the keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens (Latreille, 1812) (Vespidae, Eumeninae) in a nest of a paper wasp (Vespidae, Polistinae)

Abstract

Potter wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) adopt different substrates for nesting, including other wasp nests. Nevertheless, such behavior rarely occurs with abandoned nests of the paper wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae). In this study, we report the occurrence involving the nesting of a potter wasp on a paper wasp’s nest. Such a record occurred in November 2021 in a segment of a deciduous forest, at Mata Seca State Park, Southeast Brazil. An abandoned Polistinae nest was found, with 14 cells sealed with mud, from which four male Pachodynerus nasidens individuals emerged. This record of P. nasidens reusing a Polistinae’s nest increases our knowledge of Eumeninae nesting strategies and on possible associations between different groups of vespid wasps.

Occurrence of Cteisa hirta Solier, 1835 (Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae) in an abandoned nest of a social wasp (Vespidae: Polistinae)

“…Occurrence of Cteisa hirta Solier, 1835 (Tenebrionidae, Alleculinae) in an abandoned nest of a social wasp (Vespidae: Polistinae) Due to these characteristics, nests, when abandoned, are often occupied by other arthropods, such as ants (SOUZA et al, 2022), spiders (ARAÚJO & MARIA, 2008), termites (JACQUES et al, 2023, bees and solitary wasps (PINTO, 2005;JACQUES et al, 2022). However, there are no records of any species of Coleoptera occupying these structures.…”

Record of parasitoidism in nests of the primitively social wasp Zethus miniatus Saussure, 1858 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

“…Before storage, the number of open and closed cells as well as the presence of adults inside the cells were recorded. The containers with the nests were kept in B.O.D-type incubators for approximately 40 days, at 25°C and 70% relative humidity (Jacques et al 2022). During this period, the nest was monitored, recording the emergence of vespids as well as possible parasitoids from the sealed cells.…”

Occupation of Synoeca surinama (L.) (Vespidae, Polistinae) nests by Nasutitermes obscurus (Holmgren) (Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae) in the Cerrado

“…Termites are abundant insects in the Cerrado and play several ecological roles, such as nutrient cycling and soil aeration, and are even considered as ecosystem engineer species (lavelle et al 1997; constantino 2005). Social wasps are another relevant taxon of social insects for the Cerrado due to its significant number (souza et al 2020; vicente et al 2020), which perform important ecological functions, such as pollination, predation (Mello et al 2011;Jacques et al 2018), and interactions with other animals (souza et al 2017;Francisco et al 2022;Jacques et al 2022aJacques et al , 2022bsouza et al 2022a.…”