NEST ARCHITECTURE AND NESTING BIOLOGY OF VESPA TROPICA (LINNAEUS, 1758) IN BANGALORE, INDIA
ARATI PANNURE *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
G.P. MUTTHURAJU *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
SYED IMARAN *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
B. BOMMESHA *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
B.M. BHOGEESH *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
C. PRASHANTHA *
DEPARTMENT OF AGRIL. ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, BANGALORE-560 065, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study examined the nest architecture and nesting biology of the social wasp Vespa tropica (Hymenoptera : Vespidae) in GKVK campus, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. Information on the biology and nesting habits of most of the Indian wasp's species is almost lacking. These wasps built 56 cm height nest, which is attached to the substratum by a single petiole. The immature nests were observed from June to August, 2012. Nest was completely covered with 4-7 layers of wooden fragment mixed with saliva/carton with a five combs in it. A total of 2521 cells were present with 8.34±0.17mm of cell size. The colonies had 340 females and one queen with no drones in the nest.
Keywords: Vespa tropica, nest architecture, nesting biology, nest composition