Nesting behaviour of potter wasp Delta conoideum (Gmelin, 1790) (Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Maharashtra

Abstract

Solitary potter wasps live individual lives, and social wasps live in a colony. Nest is important for the protection of egg and their offspring. The nesting behaviour of delta conoideum was studied to study nest structure, construction behaviour, and provisioning of food from Sangli and Satara districts of Maharashtra. Nests of D. conoideum were found at many places in the study area. These nests are attached to the wall, the corners of the wall, and Stones. The female of D. conoideum constructs the nest with the help of mandibles and forelegs by using mud. The Structure of the nest of this species is pot-like. After the completion of nest construction,the wasp stores the lepidopteran larvae in this nest, and the opening of the nest is sealed with mud. D. conoideum wasps build several nests in the same site, and that nests are attached to each other.