Notes on the Nesting Behavior of Four Solitary Wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in India
Main Article Content
Abstract
India is one of countries that has the highest biodiversity level of Hymenoptera in the Oriental region, as well as in the world. Hence, studies of its biology have received a large consideration of entomologists. In a course of study on Hymenoptera in Odisha state of the country in 2015, we observed the nesting behavior of several wasps and recorded their new nesting sites. Therefore, this study presents notes on the nesting behavior of the four Indian wasps, namely, Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Sphecidae), Trypoxylon petiolatum F. Smith (Crabronidae), Delta esuriens (Fabricius) and Xenorhynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (both, Vespidae: Eumeninae). The first two wasps used man-made holes on the walls of a big temple for their nesting sites, fully stored paralyzed spiders in the nest cells for offspring and plugged them with mud, in a case of
Chalybion bengalense, females added a white layer of unknown material on the outside surface of covers. Delta esuriens chose its nesting site beneath the thatched roof of a human house, built a linear series of pot-shaped mud cells that were firmly attached to some rice blades hung loosely beneath the roof and provisioned caterpillars in these nest cells. The latter built a mud nest on a wall of a human house. Xenorhynchium nitidulum made a nest cell oblique a 30° angle from the vertical surface of the wall, plastered the outside surface of the cell with tree resin of a certain plant species after completion of building and then stored prey of an unknown caterpillar in the cell. The female of Xenorhynchium nitidulum sit in the nest cell after provisioning of the first prey to the following morning suggesting that the wasp progressively provisions its nest and the egg is laid prior to provisioning.
Keywords:
Hymenoptera, India, insect behaviour, nest cell, nesting site, provisioning.
References
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[28] W. M. Lefroy, Indian Insect Life: A Manual of the Insects of the Plains (Tropical India), Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta and Simla, India, 1909.
[29] S. D. Jayakar, H. Spurway, The Nesting Activities of the Vespoid Potter Wasp Eumenes campaniformis esuriens (Fabr.) Compared with the Ecologically Similar Sphecoid Sceliphron madraspatanum (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera), Journal Bombay Natural Historical Society, Vol. 65, No. 1, 1968, pp. 148-181.
[30] S. Yamane, A Revision of the Japanese Eumenidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidae), Insecta Matsumurana (New Series), Vol. 43, 1990, pp. 1-190.
[31] K. V. Krombein, Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XIX: Natural History Notes in Several Families (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae), Smithsonian Institution Press, USA, 1991.
[32] J. van der Vecht, Studies on Indo-Australian and East-Asiatic Eumenidae (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea), ZoologischeVerhandelingen Leiden, Vol. 60, 1963, pp. 3-113.
[33] P. G. Kumar, L. Kishore, Redescription and New Distributional Records of Xenophynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Various States of India, Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2011, pp. 311-316.
[34] M. West-Eberhard, Observations of Xenorhynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Eumeninae), a Primitively Social Wasp, Psyche, Vol. 94, No. 3-4, 1987, pp. 317-323.
[35] G. Srinivasan, P. G. Kumar, Observations on some Behavioural Aspects of the Potter Wasp Xenorhynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), Records of Zoological Survey of India, Vol. 109, No. 4, 2009, pp. 77-78.
[36] H. Spurway, Studies of the Aberrant Eumenine Wasp, Xenorphynchium nitidulum (Farb.).
I. Progressive Provisioning and Reuse of Cells, Journal of Genetics, Vol. 61, No. 2, 1974, pp. 108-127.
[37] R. M. Bohart, A. S. Menke, Sphecid Wasps of the World, a Generic Revision, University of California Press, Berkeley, UK, 1976, https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520309548.
[38] K. Tsuneki, Studies on the Genus Trypoxylon Latreille of the Oriental and Australian Regions (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), III. Species from the Indian Subcontinent Including Southeast Asia, Special Publications of the Japan Hymenopterists Association, Vol. 9, 1979, pp. 1-178.
[39] R. V. Hensen, Revision of the Nominate Subgenus Chalybion Dahlbom (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), Tijdschrift Voor Entomologie, Vol. 131, 1988, pp. 13-64.
[40] P. H. Pham, The Nesting Habits of Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Oriental Insects, Vol. 54, No. 3, 2019, pp. 308-318, https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2019.1624220.
[41] H. J. Brockmann, Diversity in the Nesting Behavior of Mud-daubers (Trypoxylon politum Say; Sphecidae), Florida Entomolgists, Vol. 63, 1980, pp. 53-64.
[42] K. V. Krombein, Trap-nesting Wasps and Bees: Life Histories, Nests, and Associates, Smithsonian Press, USA, 1967.
[43] P. H. Pham, H. T. Dang, New Record of the Mud Dauber Wasp Chalybion malignum (Kohl, 1906) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from Vietnam with the First Information on its Nesting Biology, Punjab University Journal of Zoology, Vol. 32, 2017, pp. 155-158, https://doi.org/158-PUJZ-71021220/17/0155-0158.
[2] P. G. Kumar, A. Pannure, J. M. Carpenter, Potter Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) of India, in Indian Insects, Diversity and Science: CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2019, pp. 181-194.
[3] C. Horne, Notes on the Habits of some Hymenopterous Insects from the North-West Provinces of India, Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, Vol. 7, 1870, pp. 161-196.
[4] R. C. Wroughton, Our Hymenoptera, Journal Bombay Natural Historical Society, Vol. 4, 1889, pp. 26-37.
[5] G. R. Dutt, Life Histories of Indian Insects (Hymenoptera), Memoirs of the Department of Agriculture in India, Entomological Series, Vol. 4, 1912, pp. 183-267.
[6] F. Rudow, Lifestyle and Nest Building of Predatory, Murderous and Digging Wasps, Sphegidae and Crabronidae (Continued), Entomologische Zeitschrift, Vol. 26, 1912, pp. 39-76 (in German).
[7] P. H. Pham, Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom, 1845) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) First Reported in North Vietnam, Linzer Biologische Beiträge, Vol. 50, No. 1, 2018, pp. 681-685.
[8] P. H. Pham, M. Ohl, L. X. Truong, The Genus Chalybion Dahlbom, 1843 (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from Northwest Vietnam, with Description of a New Species, Zootaxa, Vol. 4712, 2019, pp. 202-210, http://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4712.2.2.
[9] S. D. Jayakar, H. Spurway, Use of Vertebrate Faeces by the Sphecoid Wasp Chalybion bengalense Dahlb, Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 60, 1963, pp. 747-748.
[10] S. D. Jayakar, H. Spurway, Winter Diapause in the Squatter Wasps Anthodynerus flavescens (Farb.) and Chalybion bengalense (Dahlb.) (Vespoidea and Sphecoidea), Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 61, No. 3, 1965a, pp. 662-668.
[11] S. D. Jayakar, H. Spurway, Variant Behaviour of Chalybion bengalense Dahlbom (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 62, No. 1, 1965b, pp. 169-172.
[12] S. D. Jayakar, R. S. Mangipudi, Dormitories of Chalybion bengalense Dahlb, (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Journal of Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. 61, 1964, pp. 708-711.
[13] S. Chakrabarti, Materials Used in Blocking Cells of Nest by Chalybion (Ch.) bengalense (Dahl.), Sphecos, Vol. 10, 1985, pp. 17.
[14] S. Chakrabarti, Prey Species of the Renting Wasp, Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Sphecidae), Sphecos, Vol. 13, 1986, pp. 50.
[15] V. V. Sudheendrakumar, T. C. Narendran, Biology of the Immature Stages of Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Entomon, Vol. 14, 1989a, pp. 177-181.
[16] V. V. Sudheendrakumar, T. C. Narendran, Biology and Behaviour of Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Entomon, Vol. 14, 1989b, pp. 147-152.
[17] W. J. Pulawski, Number of Species in Sphecidae (Sensu Lato), http//research.calacademy.org/sites/research.calacademy.org/files/Departments/ent/Sphecidae/Genus_of_Chalybion.pdf/, 2023 (accessed on: August 9th, 2023).
[18] N. Vicens, R. Carbonell, A. V. Antropov, J. Bosch, Nesting Biology of Trypoxylon petiolatum Smith, 1858 (Crabronidae), a Cavity-Nesting Solitary Wasp New to Europe, Journal of Hymymenoptera Research, Vol. 90, 2022,
pp. 153-171, https:// doi.org/10.3897/jhr.90.78581.
[19] O. W. Richards, The American Species of the Genus Trypoxylon (Hymenopt., Sphecoidea), The Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London, Vol. 82, 1934, pp. 173-362.
[20] Ch. Barthélémy, Preliminary Observations on the Nesting Biology of Trypoxylon petiolatum Smith, 1858 (Crabronidae, Trypoxylini) in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Entomological Bulletin, Vol. 2, 2010, pp. 3-10.
[21] Ch. Barthélémy, Nest Trapping, a Simple Method for Gathering Information on Life Histories of Solitary Bees and Wasps, Bionomics of 21 Species of Solitary Aculeate in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Entomological Bulletin, Vol. 4, 2012, pp. 3-37.
[22] T. C. Ma, Notes on some Aculeata from Szechwan, West China, Kun Chong Yu Zhi Bing [= Entomology and Phytopathology], Vol. 4, 1936, pp. 466-471.
[23] K. Yasumatsu, Observation on the Habits of Trypoxylon obsonator Smith, Kontyû, Vol. 3, 1929, pp. 107-120.
[24] T. Nambu, Studies on the Biology of Eight Species of Trypoxylon (Hym., Sphecidae) Occurring in Japan, with some Notes on Their Parasites, The Life Study (Fukui), Vol. 10, 1966, pp. 25-34.
[25] T. Nambu, Studies on the Biology of Eight Species of Trypoxylon (Hym., Sphecidae) Occurring in Japan, with some Notes on Their Parasites, The Life Study (Fukui), Vol. 11, 1967, pp. 6-16.
[26] K. Tsuneki, Gleanings on the Bionomics of the East-Asiatic Non-social Wasps (Hymenoptera). VI. Some Species of Trypoxyloninae, Etizenia, Vol. 45, 1970, pp. 1-20.
[27] P. H. Pham, Observation on the Foraging Behavior of a Potter Wasp, Delta esuriens (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on Sesban (Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.), Punjab University Journal of Zoology, Vol. 30, No. 2, 2015, pp. 85-86, https://doi.org/10-PUJZ-15-1-08062015/15/0085-0086.
[28] W. M. Lefroy, Indian Insect Life: A Manual of the Insects of the Plains (Tropical India), Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta and Simla, India, 1909.
[29] S. D. Jayakar, H. Spurway, The Nesting Activities of the Vespoid Potter Wasp Eumenes campaniformis esuriens (Fabr.) Compared with the Ecologically Similar Sphecoid Sceliphron madraspatanum (Fabr.) (Hymenoptera), Journal Bombay Natural Historical Society, Vol. 65, No. 1, 1968, pp. 148-181.
[30] S. Yamane, A Revision of the Japanese Eumenidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidae), Insecta Matsumurana (New Series), Vol. 43, 1990, pp. 1-190.
[31] K. V. Krombein, Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XIX: Natural History Notes in Several Families (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae), Smithsonian Institution Press, USA, 1991.
[32] J. van der Vecht, Studies on Indo-Australian and East-Asiatic Eumenidae (Hymenoptera, Vespoidea), ZoologischeVerhandelingen Leiden, Vol. 60, 1963, pp. 3-113.
[33] P. G. Kumar, L. Kishore, Redescription and New Distributional Records of Xenophynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Various States of India, Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, Vol. 31, No. 3, 2011, pp. 311-316.
[34] M. West-Eberhard, Observations of Xenorhynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera, Eumeninae), a Primitively Social Wasp, Psyche, Vol. 94, No. 3-4, 1987, pp. 317-323.
[35] G. Srinivasan, P. G. Kumar, Observations on some Behavioural Aspects of the Potter Wasp Xenorhynchium nitidulum (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae), Records of Zoological Survey of India, Vol. 109, No. 4, 2009, pp. 77-78.
[36] H. Spurway, Studies of the Aberrant Eumenine Wasp, Xenorphynchium nitidulum (Farb.).
I. Progressive Provisioning and Reuse of Cells, Journal of Genetics, Vol. 61, No. 2, 1974, pp. 108-127.
[37] R. M. Bohart, A. S. Menke, Sphecid Wasps of the World, a Generic Revision, University of California Press, Berkeley, UK, 1976, https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520309548.
[38] K. Tsuneki, Studies on the Genus Trypoxylon Latreille of the Oriental and Australian Regions (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), III. Species from the Indian Subcontinent Including Southeast Asia, Special Publications of the Japan Hymenopterists Association, Vol. 9, 1979, pp. 1-178.
[39] R. V. Hensen, Revision of the Nominate Subgenus Chalybion Dahlbom (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae), Tijdschrift Voor Entomologie, Vol. 131, 1988, pp. 13-64.
[40] P. H. Pham, The Nesting Habits of Chalybion bengalense (Dahlbom) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae), Oriental Insects, Vol. 54, No. 3, 2019, pp. 308-318, https://doi.org/10.1080/00305316.2019.1624220.
[41] H. J. Brockmann, Diversity in the Nesting Behavior of Mud-daubers (Trypoxylon politum Say; Sphecidae), Florida Entomolgists, Vol. 63, 1980, pp. 53-64.
[42] K. V. Krombein, Trap-nesting Wasps and Bees: Life Histories, Nests, and Associates, Smithsonian Press, USA, 1967.
[43] P. H. Pham, H. T. Dang, New Record of the Mud Dauber Wasp Chalybion malignum (Kohl, 1906) (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) from Vietnam with the First Information on its Nesting Biology, Punjab University Journal of Zoology, Vol. 32, 2017, pp. 155-158, https://doi.org/158-PUJZ-71021220/17/0155-0158.