Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey

Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey

A forager of the eusocial wasp Parachartergus fraternus used its venom to subdue an unidentified small caterpillar, and another P. fraternus forager repeatedly stung a large saturniid caterpillar. In both instances, the wasp stung the larva and then waited nearby until the prey was fully paralyzed b...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Eric J. Olson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2000-01-01
Series:Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/62738
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spelling doaj-5f0877bfde3544d0a30e3165980d8b8b2020-11-24T21:29:50ZengHindawi LimitedPsyche: A Journal of Entomology0033-26151687-74382000-01-011031-2859310.1155/2000/62738Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar PreyEric J. Olson0858 Watertown Street, West Newton, MA 02165, USAA forager of the eusocial wasp Parachartergus fraternus used its venom to subdue an unidentified small caterpillar, and another P. fraternus forager repeatedly stung a large saturniid caterpillar. In both instances, the wasp stung the larva and then waited nearby until the prey was fully paralyzed before biting it into manageable packets of meat. A review of the literature on social wasp foraging yielded no similar observations of a social wasp using venom when killing prey. Elements of the foraging behavior of P. fraternus are also seen in the foraging behavior of the Eumeninae, the solitary wasp taxon most closely related to eusocial wasps.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/62738
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Eric J. Olson
spellingShingle Eric J. Olson
Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
author_facet Eric J. Olson
author_sort Eric J. Olson
title Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
title_short Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
title_full Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
title_fullStr Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
title_full_unstemmed Parachartergus fraternus (Gribodo) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Uses Venom When Taking Caterpillar Prey
title_sort parachartergus fraternus (gribodo) (hymenoptera: vespidae: polistinae) uses venom when taking caterpillar prey
publisher Hindawi Limited
series Psyche: A Journal of Entomology
issn 0033-2615
1687-7438
publishDate 2000-01-01
description A forager of the eusocial wasp Parachartergus fraternus used its venom to subdue an unidentified small caterpillar, and another P. fraternus forager repeatedly stung a large saturniid caterpillar. In both instances, the wasp stung the larva and then waited nearby until the prey was fully paralyzed before biting it into manageable packets of meat. A review of the literature on social wasp foraging yielded no similar observations of a social wasp using venom when killing prey. Elements of the foraging behavior of P. fraternus are also seen in the foraging behavior of the Eumeninae, the solitary wasp taxon most closely related to eusocial wasps.
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2000/62738
work_keys_str_mv AT ericjolson parachartergusfraternusgribodohymenopteravespidaepolistinaeusesvenomwhentakingcaterpillarprey
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