A solitary wasp boosts nesting success through nest architecture (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Anterhynchium flavomarginatum)

Abstract

While nest architecture of social wasps has been extensively studied, the structural adaptations of solitary Eumeninae remain poorly understood, despite their remarkable nesting biology. We set up trap nests for Anterhynchium. flavomarginatum in a subtropical forest in southwestern China. We aimed to investigate the effects on the nesting success of intercalary cells, diameter and vestibular length of nests. Nesting success increased significantly with the number of intercalary cells. Our results indicate that nesting success in nests with a diameter of 6–8 mm was significantly higher than that in nests with a diameter of 14–16 mm, but not significantly higher than that in nests with a diameter greater than 16 mm. Nesting success in nests with a vestibule length of 0 mm was significantly lower than in nests with a vestibule length range of 1–30 mm, 30–60 mm, and 60–90 mm. Our results bring new insights on how nesting success is improved by adjusting nest characteristics, and also provide a basis for the conservation and utilization of solitary wasps.