The Nesting ecology of social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae and Polistinae) in northern Mongolia

摘要

Observations on the nesting characteristics and colony life of Mongolian socialwasps are essential to the fi eld due to the peripheral locations of species distributionranges and critical lack of such information. We found 35 nests of seven social waspspecies, including three vespine species (Dolichovespula saxonica, D. media andVespula vulgaris) and four polistine species (Polistes snelleni, P. riparius, P. nimphaand P. biglumis). Riparian woodland was the habitat where the most species (fi ve outof seven) nests were found. Nests of P. snelleni, Baikal-Far Eastern species, werefound only in river cut banks, in holes probably originally excavated by passerinebirds most likely sand martin (Riparia riparia). Nesting sites of D. saxonica werethe most diverse (bank hole, underground, aerial and birch stump/logs). Colony sizeof vespine wasps in northern Mongolia was relatively small (36-60 individuals).Nests of Polistes species (except P. snelleni) were found frequently on the branchesof willow (Salix sp.) and wild rose (Rosa acicularis). Other characteristicsassociated with each species nest were considered separately.