Parachartergus colobopterus is an epiponine social wasp belonging to the subfamily Polistinae.
This species can be found through Central and South America and is unique because its colonies contain multiple queens.
However, relatedness among nest mates remains relatively high as a result of cyclical oligogyny, which is a system where the number of queens varies over time.
[2] P. colobopterus is a Neotropical wasp, with a range stretching through Central and South America.
This wasp build nests on tree trunks or branches that are in or near forested areas.
[1] This multiple queen nesting structure is also seen in another South American wasp, Polybia emaciata .
[2] The individual wasps that make up a colony are divided into reproductive castes, where queens are able to mate and freely reproduce while workers care for young.
It can be difficult to explain the occurrence of sociality in populations where individuals are not necessarily directly related, such as this wasp.
[1] P. colobopterus demonstrates that organisms do not necessarily need to have extreme differentiation between castes in order to maintain a successful, highly social system.
[1] The patterns of conflict and relatedness in this wasp can call be traced back to this system of cyclical oligogyny.
In order to maximize their individual fitness, workers will try to reduce the reproduction of other wasps.
Worker policing also plays a large role in modulating the number of queens per colony.
[2] Data by Strassman et al. indicates that reproduction in P. colobopterus reaches a maximum during the rainy season.
[4] Nests represent a highly concentrated supply of resources, which makes them desirable to predators.
After the initial provocation, wasps leave the nest and begin vigorous displays on its outer envelope.
Furthermore, the nests of these wasps are camouflaged by plant matter, which may further reduce the likelihood of vertebrate predation and negate the need for aggressive defense.