Belonogaster juncea juncea is a subspecies of Belonogaster juncea and is classified as a primitively eusocial wasp, meaning that the species is social while exhibiting a morphology that is indistinguishable from that of other castes. It is also classified as a type of African Paper Wasp. Many of the studies relating specifically to B. j. juncea take place at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
Johan Christian Fabricius originally discovered and classified Belonogaster juncea juncea in 1781. Belonogaster juncea juncea belongs to the genus Belonogaster which consists of over 80 species of primitively eusocial wasps. In general, the genus is Afrotropical. The genus consists of independent-founding species, meaning that colonies are founded by either one or a few foundresses. Individuals in colonies of various Belonogaster species, such as B. grisea, B. petiolata, and B. j. juncea also tend to display aggressive behavior toward other members of the same colony.
There are two subspecies of Belonogaster juncea: Belonogaster juncea colonials and Belonogaster juncea juncea.
Description and identification
Belonogaster juncea juncea has a gaster that is considerably larger and more bulbous than its petiole, which appears very thin and long. Mesoscutum length is 3.8 mm ± 0.2 mm in dominant individuals and 3.6 mm ± 0.5 mm in subordinate individuals, while petiole length is 6.9 mm ± 0.4 mm in dominant individuals and 6.6 mm ± 0.5 mm in subordinate individuals. It also has somewhat lengthy antennae and typically exhibits a black/dark red color. Along with an increased size, a dominant female in a B. j. juncea colony can be identified by abdominal wiggling behavior, as subordinate females and other males or workers do not exhibit this sort of behavior.
Distribution and habitat
Belonogaster juncea juncea has been sighted primarily in Africa and in various parts of Asia such as Saudi Arabia and India. They also are found in both tropical and temperate climates. B. j. juncea will colonize on buildings with great frequency, as evidenced by the fact that multiple studies have been conducted on colonies found in overhangs and roofs of the buildings of the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, Africa. Some nests have also been found on large boulders. Their nests are made of paper, as they are a type of African Paper Wasp, and they contain a single comb. Typically, colonies consist of no more than 20 individuals.
Colony cycles
Colony foundation occurs throughout the year, independent of the seasons, and has an average cycle time of roughly seven months. Two phases make up the colony cycle: the pre-emergence phase and the post-emergence phase.
Pre-emergence phase
The pre-emergence phase is the time between the founding of the nest by one or multiple foundresses and the emergence of the first adult. During this phase, labor begins to become divided between dominant and subordinate individuals. For instance, dominant individuals will spend much of their time resting and building the cells in the colony, while subordinate individuals will spend time outside or on the edge of the nest. The pre-emergence phase is typically just over 71 days long and is divided into three portions: Egg subphase - the time between the laying of eggs to the appearance of the first larva (usually takes around 26.5 days) Larval subphase - the time between the appearance of the first larva to the appearance of the first pupae (usually takes around 21.8 ± 7.1 days) Pupal subphase - the time between the appearance of the first pupae to the appearance of the first adult (usually takes around 22.8 ± 8.7 days)
Post-emergence phase
The post-emergence phase is the time between the emergence of the first adult and the abandonment of the colony, and reproductive episodes usually occur during this phase as well. Females typically emerge first, meaning that the initiation of the post-emergence phase coincides with the appearance of the first female. Males begin to emerge after females, but any female that happens to emerge with these males are considered to be worker females.
Between 77 and 196 days after the foundation of the colony, the initial dominant female will abandon the colony. This is followed by an increase in fighting behavior as other females will fight with each other to be the most dominant individual. The losing females will either remain in the colony as subordinates or leave the nest and start a new colony; either way, in many cases, the original nest is completely abandoned by the end of seven months.