[4] R. fasciata is distributed consistently throughout grasslands within its range, mainly inhabiting fields that are invaded by the sugarcane Miscanthus sinensis.

R. fasciata have an annual, relatively long colony cycle that begins in April and continues into November or December.

The first group to emerge from the nest in the spring are females who quickly adopt forager or fighter roles in the colony.

She spends most of her time at the nest and consistently takes an alarm posture when an enemy approaches, guiding the rest of the colony's behavior.

[3] Unlike species of related wasps of the genera Polistes and Mischocyttarus, this queen-like individual does not show obvious aggression or acts of dominance toward others in the nest.

Even when actions that are considered dominant in other species are performed, the receiving individual does not adopt a submissive posture.

[4] The genus Ropalidia has a standard colony structure where individuals are divided into three castes: sitters, fighters, and foragers.

Sitters and fighters leave the food-finding to the foragers, while they care for larvae and maintain the nest.

Foragers generally have poorly developed ovaries, while both fighters and sitters are, in theory, capable of reproduction.

This is in contrast to the strategies of many social insects, where caste has a large morphological component and only one reproductive female is maintained.

The very flexible colony structure of R. fasciata may be an adaptation to variable environmental conditions, as nests are often destroyed by typhoons, ant predation, and parasites.

It is unknown if the foundresses monopolize reproduction, and this is an important question as it defines the function of the caste system of this species.

[5] In this species, it has been shown that if many females collaborate to found a nest, it will grow faster and have a higher survival rate than one with fewer foundresses.