Vespine Wasps of the World Behaviour, Ecology & Taxonomy of the Vespinae

About this book

Vespine Wasps of the World is written by one of the leading researchers in the field with a publication history spanning four decades. It provides an up-to-date account of the life cycles, behaviour and population and community ecology of the hornets and yellowjacket wasps of the world, including nesting, brood care, foraging and colony usurpation behaviours. There are fully illustrated keys to the world fauna, including keys to subspecies and colour variants in addition to comments on the historical taxonomy of each species. All species apart from two (which are identical to some others) are illustrated by colour photographs. Vespine Wasps of the World should appeal to hymenopterists, pest contol workers and students and professionals researching insect behaviour. It is fully referenced with both a taxonomic and a subject index.

Contents

Preface

- Introduction to the vespid social wasps
- Life cycles
- Behaviour
- Controversial areas of behaviour and the organization of behaviour
- Numerical description of colonial development: the nest and brood
- Numerical description of colonial development: adults, models and strategies
- Foraging activities
- Population and community ecology
- History of dichotomous keys and a revised key
- Historical taxonomy with keys to subspecies and colour variants

Literature cited
Index
 

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