[2] R. plebeiana is widely distributed in eastern Australia, and recently have been found making huge nest aggregations, with thousands of nests on trunks of trees, in south-eastern New South Wales.

The genus, Ropalidia, is typically made up of wasps that live in tropical locations, but R. plebeiana is the exception.

Although R. plebeiana does not yet have a place within the taxonomy of the Ropalidia family, it has been discovered to be closely related to R.

There are small, thin white rings on its shoulders, waist, and abdomen.

[4] Nests of R. plebeiana are seen as a horizontal single comb with an irregular shape, and they are grayish brown in color.

[1] R. plebeiana nests have been found to have about 40 cells, which have transparent windows, with about 20 larvae and eggs at any point.

[5] However, R. plebeiana can also be found north of Brisbane, further inland in tropical highland areas as well, such as the Atherton Tableland.

[6] R. plebeiana builds its nest in aggregations, which are often formed under bridges and under overhanging rocks.

[1] R. plebeiana colonies have a single top-dominant female, or they are started by one or more foundresses that then compete for egg laying duties.

In aggregations of R. plebeiana, each comb is independent nest that is occupied by residential females.

However, overexploitation of food sources such as insects may occur, so foraging trips may need to be at locations farther away from the nests.

Possible reasons for aggregation are based on cooperation or the selfish herd effect.

There are risks however, because if a new nest joins the aggregation and does not play a role in this defense, they could increase their fitness at the expense of everyone else.

The top dominant female can mount the new wasps body and tried to sting them repeatedly in order to get them to leave the nest.

[5] Sometimes, when females land on strange combs in a nest aggregation, they immediately leave without being attacked.

[1] On foraging trips, these females get solid food, honey, water, or pulp for the nest.

The period of malaxation for females is generally much shorter than males, about 30 seconds, and then they feed several larvae with a single flesh pellet.

Females were also observed to “kiss” for the sake of transferring food or liquid between different members of the nest.

Females also “kissed” males in order to pass food along to them, so that they could also feed the larvae.