First evidence of wasp brood development inside active nests of a termite with the description of a previously unknown potter wasp species.

ABSTRACT: Potter wasps (Vespidae: Eumeninae) are known to exhibit not only sophisticated preying strategies but also a remarkable ability to manipulate clay during nest building. Due to a mixture of plasticity in building behavior and flexibility in substrate preferences during nest building, the group has been reported nesting in a variety of places, including decaying nests abandoned by termite species. Yet, evidence of wasps nesting inside senescent termite mounds is poorly reported, and to date, accounts confirming their presence inside active colonies of termites are absent. Here, we address a novel intriguing association between two species from the Brazilian Cerrado: a previously unknown potter wasp (nest invader) and a termite species (nest builder). Besides scientifically describing Mont

SUBMITTER: Hugo H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7713954 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature