The relationship between phenotypic variability in future foundresses of Polistes nimpha (Christ) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) and infestation of their larvae by the mite Sphexicozela connivens Mahunka (Acari, Astigmata, Winterschmidtiidae)

Nesting ecology of Polistes nimpha (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): a preliminary study in western Poland

“…The species composition of host plants of Polistes nimpha, especially in the upper part of Table 1, is very similar to that reported by Rusina and Orlova (2011), especially in relation to Achillea millefolium, Hypericum perforatum, and Daucus carota. Foundresses of P. nimpha emerge and start to build their nests from April until early May (Kozyra unpubl.…”

“…ex Steud., young Picea sp. (Blüthgen 1961), as well as Achillea millefolium L., Amegdalus nana L., Caragana frutex L., Centaurea jacea L., C. orientalis L., Cirsium ukranicum Bess., Crepis micranhta Czer., Daucus carota L., Hypericum perforatum L., Elytriga elongate (Host) Nevsky, Salvia verticillata L., Tanacetum vulgare L., Silaum alpestre L., Phlomis tuberosa L., Koeleria cristata L., and Panicum capillare L. (Rusina and Bogutskiy 2008, Rusina and Orlova 2011. P. nimpha builds an approximately horizontal petiole so that the comb faces to the side.…”

Unravelling cryptic species diversity in eastern Nearctic paper wasps, Polistes (Fuscopolistes), using male genitalia, morphometrics and DNA barcoding, with descriptions of two new species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

“…Deutonymphs are usually found in the genital chamber between the last tergum and sternum (as in our case), and are therefore easily overlooked. Various stages of the mite (larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and adults) occur in nests and on larvae or pupae of Polistes (Mahunka, 1970;Rusina & Orlova, 2011), but their feeding behaviour has not been studied. It is not clear whether they feed on the prey of the wasps or on immature stages of the wasps themselves (O'Connor, in litt.…”