Latest Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research Latest 3 Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research https://jhr.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:58:14 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://jhr.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Journal of Hymenoptera Research https://jhr.pensoft.net/ Nest characteristics and associates of Dolichovespula (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in Central Finland https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/98238/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 96: 45-55

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.96.98238

Authors: Atte Komonen

Abstract: In social vespine wasps, the nest characteristics and associates vary intra- and interspecifically. I studied the nest characteristics and nest associates of three Dolichovespula wasp species in boreal Finland. The average number of combs and cells per nest was similar among D. media, D. saxonica and D. norwegica, and similar to Dolichovespula in the temperate zone. Most D. media and D. saxonica colonies produced both gynes and males, whereas D. norwegica produced mainly either one. The average colony lifespan of D. saxonica was a bit over two months, i.e. shorter than documented for Dolichovespula in the temperate zone. The proportion of nests parasitised by the ichneumonid wasp Sphecophaga vesparum was 36% in D. saxonica and 50% in D. media; S. vesparum has not been recorded from D. media before. The proportion of parasitized cells was 0.6–11% for D. saxonica and 0.2–22% for D. media. The proportion yellow, overwintering cocoons of S. vesparum was highly variable among the nests. The proportion of nests parasitised by the moth Aphomia sociella was 36% in D. saxonica and 13% in D. media. Sphecophaga and Aphomia were not recorded from D. norwegica colonies, which supports studies in the temperate zone. The study adds up to the previous research on the nest structure and nest associates of vespines, and together they indicate that there is geographical variation within Europe and globally in the host use of Sphecophaga.

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Research Article Wed, 22 Mar 2023 09:49:11 +0200
All-day activity of Dolichovespula saxonica (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) colonies in Central Finland https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/79306/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 89: 157-170

DOI: 10.3897/jhr.89.79306

Authors: Atte Komonen, Jyrki Torniainen

Abstract: In social vespid wasps, colony activity varies at many temporal scales. We studied the peak season activity (number of individuals entering the nest per min) of colonies of the social vespine wasp Dolichovespula saxonica in its native range in boreal Finland. Six colonies were monitored non-stop for a full day, starting before sunrise and ending after sunset. Shorter monitoring was carried out before and/or after the full-day monitoring. All colonies were active before sunrise and after sunset, and the overall activity was positively linked with colony size. Activity showed irregular minute-to-minute cycles in all colonies. The broader within-day dynamics were idiosyncratic among the colonies: activity varied generally between 40–100% of the peak, there were usually a few peaks per day, and the timing of the peaks varied. Ambient temperature was not related to activity dynamics consistently. Our study provides high-resolution information about the all-day activity of D. saxonica and underscores high among-colony variability in the dynamics of vespine wasps.

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Research Article Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:00:09 +0200
On the spider parasitoids Polysphincta longa Kasparyan and P. boops Tschek (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae), with the first host records of P. longa https://jhr.pensoft.net/article/4111/ Journal of Hymenoptera Research 39: 71-82

DOI: 10.3897/JHR.39.7591

Authors: Niclas Fritzén, Mark Shaw

Abstract: The rarely recorded Polysphincta longa is probably widely overlooked in Europe as a result of confusion with the morphologically similar P. boops. Characters for the separation of these species are given, and host and distribution records, largely based on recent fieldwork, are presented. Araneus angulatus is shown to be the hitherto unknown host of P. longa, while all rearing records for P. boops are from Araniella species. P. longa is reported as new to the fauna of the United Kingdom and P. boops as new to Estonia.

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Research Article Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:00:00 +0300