Belonogaster

Belonogaster
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Vespoidea
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Polistinae
Tribe: Ropalidiini
Genus: Belonogaster
Saussure, 1854[1]

Belonogaster (belone - "needle", gaster - "belly") is a large genus of mainly Afrotropical quasisocial wasps, although some species occur in Arabia and two extend as far as India.[2] They have characteristics of both the eusocial and the solitary wasps.[3] Belonogaster constructs communal paper nests where the larvae are fed on masticated, soft-bodied insects such as caterpillars.[4] The type species is Belonogaster juncea,[4] which consists of two subspecies: Belonogaster juncea colonialis and Belonogaster juncea juncea.[5] Belanogaster wasps are an important food source for wintering European honey buzzards (Pernis apivorus) in sub-Saharan Africa.[6] In African traditional medicine, wasps of the genus are cooked with plant roots and consumed to cure various childhood sicknesses, as well as having ceremonial use similar to that of honey bees (Apis mellifera).[7] Some birds choose to build their nests near the nests of Belonogaster for protection, including mousebirds and weavers.[8]

Species

The following species are included:[4]

References

  1. ^ "Belonogaster (Genus)". Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  2. ^ O. W. Richards, 1982 A revision of the genus Belonogaster de Saussure (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 44(2): 31-114
  3. ^ "Gordon's Social Wasps Page". Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Belonogaster waspweb.org [dead link‍]
  5. ^ "Belonogaster_juncea". Archived from the original on 11 November 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  6. ^ Saharan Africa sabap2.adu.org [dead link‍]
  7. ^ O. A. Lawal and A. D. Banjo, 2007. Survey for the Usage of Arthropods in Traditional Medicine in Southwestern Nigeria. Journal of Entomology, 4: 104–112.
  8. ^ "Handbook of the Birds of the World – Volume 6 – Lynx Edicions".