Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society

Published by: Kansas Entomological Society

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Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 77(4):573-583. 2004
doi: 10.2317/E20.1

Biological Notes On Three Species of Giant Australian Mason Wasps, Abispa (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)

Robert W. Matthews and Janice R. Matthews

Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602

Abstract

Seven nests of Abispa australiana (Mitchell) from Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, two nests of A. splendida splendida (Guérin-Méneville) from Magnetic Island National Park, Queensland, and one nest of A. meadewaldoensis Perkins from Kununurra, West Australia constitute the most extensive sample of Abispa nests yet reported. The isolated, cryptic, mud nests had thick walls (up to 16 mm), a downward-pointing, funnel-shaped entrance tube, and an exterior plastered with numerous small mud pellets that matched substrate color. All nests were affixed to firm surfaces in semi-sheltered positions; the nest of A. meadewaldoensis was in a crevice below ground. For A. australiana, the largest nest measured 15.6 cm long × 6.9 cm wide × 4.5 cm deep, and comprised seven cells; cell dimensions averaged 33.8 mm long × 13.9 mm diameter. Females of all species appear to specialize on a few species of small pyralid or gelechiid caterpillars, provisioning cells with up to 79 prey. All 88 prey recovered from three cells of two A. australiana nests proved to be a single species of gelechiid. Provisioning type appears to differ among the three species, with A. s. splendida practicing progressive provisioning and A. meadewaldoensis and A. australiana being mass provisioners. Parasitism levels were low, with only two of 21 cells in the seven active nests attacked by an unidentified chrysidid. Unidentified sarcophagid and bombyliid fly remains were found in three previously emerged old nests; in two of these, the thick mud walls prevented sarcophagids from escaping. Both sexes were present at two A. australiana nests and one A. s. splendida nest, suggesting a wait-at-the-nest mating tactic in addition to scramble competition at water sources and nest trap-lining previously reported for A. ephippium. Another A. australiana nest found with two associated females may have been communal.

Accepted: March 31, 2004; Revised: July 25, 2004

Keywords: Mating system, nesting biology, progressive provisioning, prey records, Kakadu National Park, rock art conservation



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Fig. 1. Single-celled nest of A. splendida splendida collected on Magnetic Island National Park, November 11, 1998, showing the flared entrance funnel and the texture of the nest exterior. Funnel is only partially completed. Units on scale bar are 1 mm

Fig. 2. Two nests of A. australiana collected at Kakadu National Park. Nest at left, the largest found (nest 5), was attached to a fire-scarred tree trunk about 30 cm above the ground. Nest at right (nest 3) was nestled in a rock crevice about 8 cm above ground. Note numerous lumps of clay that help to camouflage the nests. Coins measure 20 mm diameter

Fig. 3. Portion of cell from A. australiana nest 1 from Kakadu National Park showing a pupa of A. australiana and the torn silken cocoon closure (arrow). The nest wall has two mud layers, an innermost initially constructed cell wall 8 mm thick, and a subsequently plastered mud pellet exterior which adds about 8–9 mm to the overall nest wall thickness

Fig. 4. Cell of A. meadewaldoensis (nest 8) from Kununurra, West Australia showing the egg suspended by a silken thread. Cell entrance is at lower left. Egg is 6.0 mm long

table

Table 1. A summary of Abispa nest locations and architecture

table

Table 2. Contents of the ten Abispa nests in Table 1

 
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