Social Behavior of Parischnogaster nigricans serrei (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) in Java1

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Abstract
Parischnogaster nigricans serrei (Du Buysson) constructs a linear series of nonoverlapping cells on roots or hanging threads. Colonies consist of males and both fertilized and unfertilized females. In the single observed nest initiation, a lone female was joined by 4 males who were faithful to the nest and solicited food aggressively from her. Mating was not observed, but aggregations of up to 22 males clustered on roots near nests. Oviposition is indirect, with the egg emitted close to the mouth, then delicately grasped with the mandibles and inserted into the cell. Oviposition is preceded and followed by the emission of a gelatinous material from the ventrally flexed abdomen tip into the mouth. Aided by her anterior legs, the wasp collects and wads this material into a ball, then places it on the cell bottom. More mature larvae presumably are fed with masticated insects. Females eat their own and other females' eggs. Cells with full-grown larvae are sealed by adult females, reopened to extract the fecal remains, and resealed. An essentially linear hierarchy exists among the females on all nests, with only rare evidence of inversion. Both degree of ovarian development and a division of labor are correlated to hierarchy position. The alpha female almost always resides on the nest, where she alternates long periods of immobility with cell inspection, patrol, and aggressive flights against conspecifics approaching the nest. Subordinate females are more often absent, and perform the bulk of the foraging activities. Subordinates contribute to most nest activities, including larval nutrition and ant guard construction, but only the alpha deposits eggs. Fertilized females have significantly larger heads and better-developed ovaries than unfertilized females.

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