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Science 17 May 1968:
Vol. 160. no. 3829, pp. 787 - 788
DOI: 10.1126/science.160.3829.787
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Articles

Microstigmus comes: Sociality in a Sphecid Wasp

Robert W. Matthews 1

1 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138

Pendent nests of the wasp Microstigmus comes from Costa Rica contained up to 18 adults each. Ovarian dissection indicates that there is reproductive dominance (division of labor) among females from the same nest, without apparent external morphological differences. Evidence for parental care and cooperation in provisioning and defense also identify this as the first social sphecid wasp.


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