Group formation is a fundamental step in the evolution of cooperation, yet there are few models of this process in social animals, and even fewer empirical tests. The prolonged nest initiation phase in temperate paper wasps provides a valuable opportunity to study group formation. Data were obtained for 180 groups of females collected from a large population of Polistes dominulus in two sites i...

UNLABELLED Insects commonly harbor facultative bacterial endosymbionts, such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma species, that are vertically transmitted from mothers to their offspring. These endosymbiontic bacteria increase their propagation by manipulating host reproduction or by protecting their hosts against natural enemies. While an increasing number of studies have reported endosymbiont-mediate...

The ancient interaction between figs ( Ficus , Moraceae) and their pollinating fig wasps is an unusual example of a mutualism plants gall-inducing insects. This review intends to offer fresh perspectives into the relationship diversity sycophiles which inhabit enclosed globular inflorescences that function as microcosms. Besides pollinators, are also inhabited by other wasps. evaluates state cu...

Abstract Mulching, cutting of the vegetation without plant biomass removal, is a common alternative to mowing. The aim our study was find out if mulching forest meadows at different time points affects cavity-nesting bees and wasps. We exposed trap nests for wasps 24 in south-western Germany over 2 years applied four experimental treatments with six replicates: (i) June, (ii) September, (iii) J...

Wasps belonging to the family vespidae is one of the dangerous hymenopteran when disturbed in its habitat either accidently or purposely. Wasp stings are common, especially in populations living in vicinity to forested areas all over the world. Local signs following stings are common and generally life threatening anaphylaxis may occur, including Kounis syndrome requiring immediate treatment. T...

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