Camoufaged nests of Mischocyttarus mirifcus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

Abstract

Social wasps present various architectural patterns for their nests, which may difer in shape, size, color, and material used in construction. The distribution pattern of comb cells presented by Mischocyttarus mirifcus (Zikán, 1935) is vertical with a single cell of width, resulting in a fliform shape that camoufages in the middle of the substrate. There are few studies regarding this architectural pattern for social wasps and their role in camoufage, and this study aims to detail the nesting habits of this species. In total, 40 colonies were analyzed in their natural habitat and six were dissected in the laboratory. Aspects about the construction of the nests and nesting environment have been described. A test was carried out with nest photographs, to quantify their camoufage percentage within the nesting substrate. The colonies were found mainly in riparian forests where there were elements in the environment that favored their camoufage. According to the nest photograph analysis, their camoufage levels can vary according to the position from which the photograph is taken. It is evident that M. mirifcus founders select sites where they can camoufage their colonies, and this gives them advantages in exploring a new environment.