Summary
Level of social organization, adult behaviour, size and development of the brood in three species ofAnischnogaster are described. The normal colony size in all the three species was one female per nest, and colony size never exceeded two females per nest. The social interactions, which were only observed in one species, did not include any marked dominance behaviour, but there was clear caste differentiation, with the older female guarding the nest while the younger female foraged for food. InAnischnogaster sp. A only some eggs and larvae have abdominal secretion, while no secretion at all was found on the eggs and larvae ofA. laticeps. In spite of this, the Dufour's gland was found to be well developed. The significance of this is discussed. Females ofA. laticeps were found to fall into two groups distinguished by the length of the sting. The larvae seem quite similar to those of other Stenogastrinae and have, apparently, only four instars.
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Turillazzi, S., Hansell, M.H. Biology and social behaviour of three species ofAnischnogaster (Vespidae, Stenogastrinae) in Papua New Guinea. Ins. Soc 38, 423–437 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01241876
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01241876