Observations on the social wasp Ropalidia montana from peninsular India.

ABSTRACT

Four colonies of Ropalidia montana collected in August in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India had adult populations of 32,000-61,000. Queens represented 0·46–1·40% of the populations. All colonies contained males, but in widely varying proportions (1·47– 27.00%). The large adult populations and the fact that the nests were largely filled with brood in all stages of development indicate that the colonies were in a stage of active growth in this season. In December, however, colonies have been reported to have smaller adult populations and little brood. Thus brood production appears to be seasonal in southern India. Predation by the hornet Vespa tropica was observed in 4 of 31 active colonies. Ropalidia montana adults were defenseless in the face of these depredations, which appear to continue at a low level for days or weeks on a given nest.