Parachartergus fraternus[1] is a neotropical, swarm founding, polistine wasp species that is distributed throughout Central and South America.
These wasps belong to the genus Parachartergus, which has sixteen species distributed from Mexico to southern Argentina.
At rest, the wings are longitudinally bent with the last distal part being clear and colorless (almost white).
[6] The age of the wasp is determined by examining the progressive pigmentation of the transverse apodeme, which is located at the base of each sternum.
P. fraternus wasps typically live in second growth tropical dry forests.
Nests are often directly attached to the smooth surfaces of tree trunks, branches, and walls.
[4] After this, the post-emergence period occurs which is the whole duration of the colony cycle following the appearance of offspring wasps.
This is the first part of the post-emergence period and occurs when subordinate foundresses are still present in nests, interacting with worker wasps.
Gynes start emerging from nests around early February; thus any female collected from colonies up to the end of January of each season will most likely be a worker.
The colony cycle is usually annual, with foundress females beginning new nests in the spring after having overwintered for about 4.5 months.
Females can potentially become either queens (reproductives) or workers (non-reproductives) according to intracolony and environmental factors.
Their wings are usually also half open and their gasters are curved laterally by about 30 degrees towards approaching wasps.
[4] The greatest foraging activity of P. fraternus occurs during the hottest part of the day, which is usually between noon and 2:30pm.
There was the greatest foraging (bringing back the most food) during the pre-emergence phase of the colony cycle because of increased nest construction and a large nutritional demand from the brood.
It also needs wood pulp to construct and repair cells and sugary substances like nectar and honeydew to feed the brood and adults.
[5] The humidity and temperature determines the amount of foraging that occurs in Parachartergus fraternus nests.
On sunny days there was lower humidity, a warmer temperature, and higher brightness levels.
[6] Forager wasps use venom and stinging to subdue caterpillars that they bring back to the nest for consumption.
The wasps sting the caterpillars multiple times and then wait until their prey is paralyzed enough to approach.
The larvae prey lose muscular control, become paralyzed, and then the wasp grasps the caterpillar in its mandibles and chews it into packets of meat.
[5] When the envelope and comb of a Parachartergus fraternus nest are removed or manipulated, the wasps to make defensive buzzing patterns and then disperse.
They visit leaves, trees, fences, and walls in different directions within 50 meters of the old nest.
They then create an odor trail by dragging their abdomens and depositing venom or Dufour's gland secretions that leads to the chosen new site.
The newly chosen nesting site is also sprayed with venom prior to the adults all moving there in a swarm cloud.
After landing on the new nest site, the scouts usually brushed antennas with each other and put their mouthparts on the new substrate.
Then, they perform gaster dragging and flight looping behaviors to signify that they have arrived at the new nest site.
After these interactions with scouts, the previously inactive wasps begin flying around and depart within a few minutes.
[5] Social wasps like Parachartergus fraternus are biological control agents of pests.
Lepidoptera larvae are pests in forest and agriculture plantations, so these wasps help to control the numbers of these animals.
Usually, adult wasps find prey, subdue it, chew it up and bring this back to feed the others.