Honey wasps are species in the genus Brachygastra of the family Vespidae. Brachygastra comprises 17 species of social paper wasps. The ancestral species are thought to have diverged about 32 million years ago within diverse Amazonian rainforest. Subsequent speciation within the genus is thought to have mostly occurred between 23 Ma and 10 Ma, during the time of the Andean uplift when the landscape was significantly altered due to tectonic activity. The current cladistic organisation of the genus has been heavily reliant on morphological characteristics.
Brachygastra species live in colonies and construct arboreal paper nests in humid forest environments, although several species occur in open vegetation. They are widely distributed in Central and South America, and also occur in southwest areas of North America. They have a broad diet consisting of floral nectar and insect protein. Several species are known to collect and store nectar in large amounts as honey, a characteristic in the insect world only shared with various bee species, a few wasp species (Polybia spp.), and a few ant species (Myrmecocystus spp. and other genera). There are few historical reports of humans using honey produced by honey wasps, probably due to its small quantities and the wasp's fierce sting.
Mexican Honey Wasp (Vespidae, Brachygastra mellifica)
The species can provide important ecosystem services such as pollination, herbivore deterrence and predation of disease vectors.
^ abJames M. Carpenter. "Tentative Checklist of the Polistine Tribe Epiponini". IUNH. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
Honey wasps are species in the genus Brachygastra of the family Vespidae. Brachygastra comprises 17 species of social paper wasps. The ancestral species...
Brachygastra mellifica, commonly known as the Mexican honey wasp, is a neotropical social wasp. It can be found in North America. B. mellifica is one of...
Brachygastra lecheguana (Latreille 1824), formerly known as Nectarina lecheguana, is a species of dark paper wasp found across North and South America...
Brachygastra scutellaris, a honey wasp, is a Neotropical, swarm-founding species that is found in South America and has a medium-sized population of 100–1000...
in a honey bee nest. Some species of the epiponine genera Polybia and Brachygastra store honey in the comb, among the few insects other than bees to store...
Hilarigona brachygastra is a species of dance flies, in the fly family Empididae. Bezzi, M. (1909). "Beitrage zur Kenntnis der sudamerikanischen Dipterenfauna...
prism-packed combs made of paper instead of wax; in some species (such as Brachygastra mellifica), honey is stored in the nest, thus technically forming a paper...
Swiss documentary film about honey bees Melittology, the study of bees Brachygastra – Genus of wasps (honey wasps) known to collect and store nectar as honey...
mass provisioning in the strict sense, though the vespid wasp genus Brachygastra stores provisions of honey in its nests; the honey is used to supplement...
commonly located in concealed places, such as under rocks or in crevices. Brachygastra#Ecosystem services Wikispecies has information related to Masarinae....
stingless bees produce honey. Some wasp species, such as Brachygastra lecheguana and Brachygastra mellifica, found in South and Central America, are known...
by consumption of honey produced by several wasp species, including Brachygastra lecheguana, during the Datura blooming season. These semi-domesticated...
RNA interference, RNAi, biopesticide to reduce psyllids The predatory Brachygastra mellifica and parasitoid Tamarixia radiata wasps can both help control...
pig—domesticated in the Andes Hog—important European import Honey wasp—Brachygastra mellifica, Brachygastra lecheguana, and Polybia occidentalis, a source of honey found...
and worker control of reproduction in a large-colony epiponine wasp, Brachygastra mellifica. Behavioral Ecology. 9(6): 573-581. F. B. Noll & R. Zucchi...
pupa. Eciton burchellii are also known to prey on wasp species like Brachygastra scutellaris – they are the most severe predators of the wasp and their...
1865) H. anomalicauda Collin, 1933 H. argentata (Philippi, 1865) H. brachygastra (Philippi, 1865) H. caishana Smith, 1962 H. chiloensis (Brèthes, 1924)...
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