Native Ropalidia Wasps
Native Ropalidia wasps are a genus of solitary wasps found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Australia. They are known for their distinctive appearance, with a bright yellow and black colouration, and their unique nesting habits.
Appearance
- Native Ropalidia wasps are relatively small, with a body length of approximately 0.5 inches.
- They have a yellow and black striped pattern on their bodies, with a black and yellow striped head and thorax.
- Native Ropalidia wasps have long and slender antennae, which are black in colour.
- They have clear wings that are held outstretched when they are at rest.
- The abdomen of Native Ropalidia wasps is round and plump, and they have a distinctive waist between their thorax and abdomen.
- They have six long, thin legs that are used for walking and perching on flowers.
- Stick-nest Brown Paper Wasp have a sting, which they use for self-defence, but they are not known to be aggressive and will only sting if threatened.
Life Cycle
- The female wasp lays eggs inside the nest cells.
- The eggs hatch into larvae, which are fed by the adult wasps with chewed-up food.
- The larvae grow and molt several times as they develop.
- When the larvae are fully grown, they spin a cocoon and pupate inside.
- After pupation, the adult wasp emerges from the cocoon.
- Adult wasps are sexually immature and do not mate until they have worked in the nest for several days or weeks.
Habits
- Native Ropalidia wasps are known for their intricate and complex nest-building habits.
- This wasps are social insects and live in colonies, with a single queen wasp and many workers.
- The queen is responsible for laying eggs, while the workers take care of the nest, hunt for food, and feed the young.
- These wasps are predatory, and they hunt small insects such as caterpillars, spiders, and other small insects, which they feed to their young.
- Stick-nest Brown Paper Wasp also play an important role in the pollination of plants.
- Stick-nest wasps are fiercely protective of their nests and will defend them against potential predators or intruders. They have a powerful sting that they use to protect their nests and their young.
- Some species of Native Ropalidia wasps are migratory, and they travel to different locations in search of food and suitable nesting sites. They use their sense of smell and visual cues to find their way.