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Abstract
We report the natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata with a special reference to the males. We found that just as nests of this species are found throughout the year, so are the males. Females spend all their life in their nests but males stay in their natal nests only for 1–12 days and leave to lead a nomadic life. Males maintained in the laboratory can live for up to 140 days. Like all eusocial hymenopteran males, R. marginata males also do not perform any colony maintenance activities. We found that males did not forage or feed larvae. Compared with females, males showed fewer dominance and subordinate behaviours and being solicited behaviour and more feeding self and soliciting behaviours. By comparing males with young females, we found similar differences, except that the males showed similar rates of feeding self and higher rates of subordinate behaviour.
Acknowledgements
Supported in part by the Department of Science and Technology and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. RS was supported by a Research Fellowship of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. We thank Mr. Ponnanna for his assistance in nest collection. The study was designed by RS and RG. All data collection and analysis were performed by RS under the supervision of RG. RS and RG co-wrote the paper.