The sting is barbed and if used often kills the wasp , which may be the reason why such a striking defensive display is used. [12], The defensive behavior in S. septentrionalis often involves a large number of workers leaving the nest in order to display or attack with their stingers in response to a disturbance. Wasps in the genus Synoeca are often referred to as warrior wasps and are found in various areas in the Americas. Commonly known as warrior wasps or drumming wasps, they are known for their aggressive behavior, a threat display consisting of multiple insects guarding a nest beating their wings in a synchronized fashion, and an extremely painful sting. [11] In colonies with already-established queens, workers will display aggressive behavior in order to inhibit female ovary development. [3], They are considered to be paper wasps, as their nests are made out of paper. [5] S. septentrionalis is known for possessing a very painful sting. [4] As a result, they exhibit what is termed an, "intermediate nesting cycle", in which the benefits of staying in the same nest for another colony cycle outweigh the costs of staying in the nest. The wasps in this genus are also a part of the paper wasp tribe known as Epiponini, which are Neotropical. [1], S. septentrionalis will often build their nests on trees, specifically flat against a tree trunk or a limb. Synoeca septentrionalis is one of five species of wasps in the genus Synoeca. [1] Their wings are also quite large and are entirely infuscate. [12] S. septentrionalis has also been known to defend against army ants by piling their bodies up against the nest entrance. [11] As evidence of this, it has been found that, in most swarming colonies such as S. septentrionalis, the population of queens is bi-modal with respect to age; some queens are very old while others are very young. [4] However, army ant predation can be extreme enough to regulate the density of a colony and keep populations of S. septentrionalis and other species of paper wasps regulated. [8], Montezuma oropendola (Psarocolius montezuma) is a tropical bird that shares a similar distribution to S. [10], S. septentrionalis is unique to the genus Synoeca in that its nests will typically contain two entrance or exit holes, whereas the nests of other species in the genus will usually only contain one hole. [4], Roughly a week after the nest is complete, the first larvae begin to hatch,[4] and these will become adults approximately 30 days after hatching, marking the end of the pre-emergence phase and the beginning of the post emergence phase. Synoeca is a genus of eusocial paper wasps found in the tropical forests of the Americas. [6] Out of a possible 4 points on the "STARR: Pain Scale for Hymenoptera Stings," S. septentrionalis received a 4,[6] a rating which very few other species in the hymenoptera order achieved. S. septentrionalis is found more north than others in the genus as well. [9] Overall, they are a medium-sized wasp[1] with lengths of approximately 20 millimetres (0.79 in). [8] To make the sound, the wasps scrape their mandibles across the nest walls. The wasps in this genus are also a part of the paper wasp tribe known as Epipo… A 4/4 on this scale means that the sting is considered to be "traumatically painful" and often requires some medical attention. [4] However, species such as S. septentrionalis primarily reside in a tropical climate, and this congruency is disrupted, as they may stay in the same nest for more than one reproductive cycle. [1] In general, the genus is quite aggressive[7] and will often display cohesive defense mechanisms when threatened. [12] This prevalent predation has resulted in S. septentrionalis making numerous adaptations, some of which include forming a complex nest structure, choosing a nest-site that reduces exposure to predators, and establishing defensive mechanisms. [13] It has been observed that more of these birds will nest in trees that are tall, umbrella-shaped, and exhibit a presence of wasps, specifically S. septentrionalis. S. septentrionalis has an incredibly painful sting. This is largely because it resides at an elevation of 300 meters above sea level, a lower elevation than most paper wasps. [2] Their nests will change as a colony grows. "STARR: Pain Scale for Hymenoptera Stings,", "The Ins and Outs of a Tropical Social Wasp Nest", "First records of Synoeca septentrionalis Richards, 1978 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) in the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest", "Shape differences rather than size differences between castes in the Neotropical swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia docilis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Synoeca_septentrionalis&oldid=985380831, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 25 October 2020, at 16:55. [4], Normally, in wasps residing in a temperate climate, the nesting cycle and the colony cycle are one and the same, meaning that a colony will use one nest per reproductive episode. [4] In S. septentrionalis, nest construction will begin when the swarm has all arrived at the potential construction site. [6], Synoeca septentrionalis is one of five species of wasp in the genus Synoeca, with the other four being S. chalybea, S. cyanea, S. surinama, and S. [3], S. septentrionalis are found in Central and South America, especially in areas such as Costa Rica,[3] Panama,[1] Colombia,[1] Guatemala,[1] Mexico [1] and Venezuela. [8] This is a characteristic defensive mechanism that all species of the genus Synoeca exhibit. [11] When workers are not preventing female development, they are raised in an orphanage-like manner where they are able to develop full ovaries with multiple oocytes that can maintain sperm. The wasps will utilize their defensive mechanisms and stings in order to deter both predators and ectoparasites. [2] Along with this "gaster-rubbing," S. septentrionalis will often chew and lick leaves on the pathway between the two sites,[2] thus enhancing their methods of communication. [4] It is typically found in areas from Central to South America. [5] The elongated wings will allow for flying that is more energetically efficient, in order to compensate for their large body size and muscle mass, while the distally-organized veins will prevent bending of the wings, which would result in a loss of energy. septentrionalis. [11], S. septentrionalis is preyed upon by numerous species. [11] These are ultimately the females that are able to take a chance to become a queen. [5] As a result, they are able to generate a lift force that is able to maintain flight in the presence of their large muscle mass. Each wasp in the genus exhibits similar characteristics, but from a phylogenetic standpoint, S. septentrionalis is most closely related to S. surinama and S. cyanea. [4], It has been seen that, when moving as a swarm between nests or to a new nest, S. septentrionalis will use various means of communication to facilitate group movement. [8] Often, after the wasps leave the nest, they will display their gaster in such a way that it is perpendicular to the ground and the rest of their body; this behavior is defined as gaster-flagging. [2] This is most often done through the use of pheromones. [4] When queen number is small, worker number will be high and thus females will grow ovaries that are well developed so that they may reproduce as queens. [3], The wasps within the family Vespidae exhibit a wide range of body sizes, and S. septentrionalis is one of the larger wasps within the family. [12] Specifically, army ants will regularly feed on them along with other species of paper wasps. Synoeca, a genus of wasps found in South and Central America [3] Most nests have only two to three lobes, but nests with nine lobes that span over three meters have been reported. Western Cicada Killer - The Sphecius grandis also has a painful sting with a pain level of 1.5. [1] They are also Neotropical, meaning that they are found in primarily tropical climates, such as rainforests, where humidity is relatively high. [11] When the number of queens becomes low within a colony, they will signal to new females for them to try to become queens and repopulate the nest with queens. [8], Along with gaster-flagging, S. septentrionalis will warn the colony when it is disturbed by drumming the inside of the nest, creating a characteristic alarm sound. [1] It is a swarm-founding wasp that is also eusocial,[2] exhibiting complicated nest structure and defense mechanisms[3] and a colony cycle including a pre-emergence phase and a post-emergence phase. [8] From a defensive standpoint, it is likely that gaster-flagging serves as a warning signal to predators that S. septentrionalis will engage in defensive stinging behavior if necessary. Each wasp in the genus exhibits similar characteristics, but from a phylogenetic standpoint, S. septentrionalis is most closely related to S. surinama and S. cyanea. [5] In order for this to occur in the most efficient manner possible, these wasps have enlarged wings and veins that are distally extended. [4] When queen number is high, worker number is small, and steps will be taken to inseminate females in order to keep them from reproducing, and they will become workers. This display escalates from drumming inside the nest to … [1] Wasps in the genus Synoeca are often referred to as warrior wasps and are found in various areas in the Americas. [3] Certain holes will remain open and act as entrances or exits for S. [3] Nests have been seen between 1.70 and 6 meters above the ground. [4] It is at this point when the emergence of workers is largely dependent on the necessity to produce reproductive females that will become queens. [13] As a result, S. septentrionalis can exist in a commensalistic relationship with Montezuma oropendola.[13]. Typically, they will start as one comb within a ridged, domed envelope that also has a hole or holes where other lobes can be added as necessary. [5], S. septentrionalis exhibit a behavior that is known as "cyclical oligogyny," where there are varying numbers of queens per colony cycle. [8], Synoeca septentrionalis exhibits a black-ish or dark blue color and has a metallic-like appearance. [1] Their metasomal tergum (a portion of the abdomen) and sternum both exhibit erect hairs, and their clypeus is imprinted with an area that resembles a dark triangle. [3] This wasp is one of the larger species of paper wasps and exhibits multiple morphological adaptations as a result of this. Synoeca septentrionalis is one of five species of wasp in the genus Synoeca, with the other four being S. chalybea, S. cyanea, S. surinama, and S. virginea.

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