Size and composition of swarming colonies in Prove

Authors: M Matsuura

Publish Date: 2014/02/08

Volume: 46, Issue: 3, Pages: 219-223

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Abstract

Ninetyeight nests of various growing stages of Provespa anomala were found in the lowlands of Sumatra Indonesia from August to January Its colony cycle is considered to be annual with nests built throughout the year There were two types of early nests before the emergence of workers one with a worker number of less than 63 and the other of more than 231 The former were new nests each containing a new queen and were built by reproductive swarming whereas each of the latter was possibly rebuilt by an old queen and an absconding swarm Ten swarming colonies were attracted by an oillamp light these consisted of a copulated queen with immature oocytes in the ovary and 55 workers on average No males or workers stylopized by Xenos provesparum were observed either in colonies before worker emergence or in swarms coming flying into the light Differences between swarming in Provespa polygyny and nest relocation in Vespa and those in swarmfounding Polistinae are discussed

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