THE BIOLOGY OF STENOGASTER CONCINNA VAN DER VECHT WITH COMMENTS ON THE PHYLOGENY OF STENOGASTRINAE (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Abstract

The biology, nests and immature stages of a newly described vespid wasp, Stenogaster concinna van der Vecht, are detailed. This primitive wasp inhabits the deeply‐shaded river environment of the tropical rain‐forest in Papua New Guinea. The bell‐shaped nests, which are characteristic, are constructed of mud and suspended from rootlets. The significance of larval provisioning and other features of stenogastrine biology are discussed in relation to the phylogeny of the Vespoidea. Copyright © 1975, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved