Mischocyttarus

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Mischocyttarus
Western paper wasp (Mischocyttarus flavitarsis) building a nest
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Polistinae
Tribe: Mischocyttarini
Genus: Mischocyttarus
Saussure
, 1853
Species

>200 species

Mischocyttarus is a very large, primarily

Nearctic region. It is the only member of the tribe Mischocyttarini;[1] the asymmetrical tarsal lobes of Mischocyttarus separates it from the tribe Epiponini. Mischocyttarus is the largest genus of social wasps, containing over 200 species and subspecies.[1] Mischocyttarus wasps build a relatively simple, single comb nest. Sometimes, the nest is built within a meter of the nest of Polistes carnifex.[2] Foraging adults bring nectar and small caterpillars back to the nest to feed to the developing larvae which are individually housed in separate cells in the nest.[3] Not all nests have a female with developed ovaries.[2] Their biology is similar to that of species in the genus Polistes
. However, Mischocyttarus appear to show considerably more social and reproductive flexibility than Polistes.

Mischocyttarus mexicanus cubicola huddling together in early winter

Species[1]

References