Necrophagy by neotropical swarm-founding wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)

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O’Donnell, S. 1995. Necrophagy by neotropical swarm-founding wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini). Biotropica 27:133–136.

In this paper I present observations of necrophagy, the consumption of flesh from vertebrate and invertebrate carcasses, by Neotropical swarm founding wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini) collected in Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela; I also review earlier records of this phenomenon in the Neotropics. Most eusocial bees and wasps rely primarily on pollen and live insect prey, respectively, as sources of protein for developing brood (Michener 1974, Hunt 1991). However, necrophagy appears to have evolved independently in swarm-founding Neotropical bees and wasps.

Keywords: Agelaia; Angiopolybia; Epiponini; mandibular modification; necrophagy; Vespidae