Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XIX: Natural History Notes in Several Families (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae)

Krombein, Karl V. Biosystematic Studies of Ceylonese Wasps, XIX: Natural History Notes in Several Families (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, number 515, 41 pages, 59 figures, 1991.—Behavioral, ecological, and distributional data are provided for 40 species of Sri Lankan wasps in the families Eumenidae, Vespidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae. All species are solitary except the subsocial vespid, Eustenogaster eximia (Bingham), which rarely exhibits primitive eusociality. Behavioral data on Eumenidae, Pompilidae, and Crabronidae may include the following aspects: nest construction and architecture; prey hunting or capture; prey transport to nest; natural enemies; and adult behavior. An extended section on E. eximia provides detailed information on the following: nest architecture, materials used, the bonding role of hyphae of a species of Polyporaceae or Telephoraceae (Basidiomycetes, Aphyllophorales) in carton composition, and construction; brood development with analyses of larval food (Araneae and Hymenoptera); nature of the cocoon, initially fine silken threads overlain by a glistening film; nest associates including natural enemies (Hymenoptera) and associated or commensal organisms (Isoptera, Collembola, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Acaridei, and Fusarium species (Hyphomycetes)); and adult behavior and limited eusociality. The range of each species is given as well as detailed locality records of its occurrence, insofar as possible, in Sri Lanka. Additional data include the ecological zone(s) in which each species is found in Sri Lanka, and the ranges in altitude and average annual rainfall. The text is supplemented by a map delineating the ecological zones and average annual rainfall, as well as photographs of the nests of a few species, and scanning electron micrographs of cell wall composition and cocoon fabric in E. eximia. OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DATE is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution's annual report, Smithsonian Year. SERIES COVER DESIGN: The coral Montastrea cavernosa (Linnaeus). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Revised for volume 19) Krombein, Karl V. Biosystematic studies of Ceylonese wasps. (Smithsonian contributions to zoology ; no. 515) Vol.16: Authors: Karl V. Kxombein and Wojciech J. Pulawski. Vol. 17: Authors: Karl V. Krombein and J. van der Vecht. In vols. place of publication appears as: City of Washington. Includes bibliographical references.