Zethus (Zethoides) schadei Bohart & Stange, 1965

Lopes, Rogério Botion & Melo, Gabriel A. R., 2025, New nests of Zethus reveal unexpected architecture variation in the olmecus species group (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (e 20240126) 69, pp. 1-9 : 3

Zethus (Zethoides) schadei Bohart & Stange, 1965

Collecting data: Translated from field notes of the second author: “RN126 – Zethus miniatus (?). Nest built on a piece of straw on the margin of straw roof. Four adults present. 14 cells: 3 open (all with larvae; one of them still without the collar and with its walls still green). Amazon Village Hotel , Rio Puraquequara, 31.vi.1999: (nest recorded in 05.viii.1999: another cell had the cap partially open and has an apparently dead adult inside; I finished opening it and found out that it contained a female, which was alive; it was removed and sacrificed)” .

Overall aspect ( Figs. 3A, 3B ): The nest was fixed hanging on a fine piece of straw and is comprised of a cluster of fourteen adjacent exposed cells that are perpendicular to the substrate.

Fixation: a single piece of straw runs adjacent to the lateral walls of the first cells of rows one, two and four and is partially englobed by a mixture of vegetable and resinous matter.

Brood cells: there are fourteen cells, all barrel-shaped of similar height, aligned and arranged in five rows: four rows of three cells each and one row of two cells. The left lowermost cell is incomplete, empty and its color is now brownish instead of green like described in the journal. The first cell of rows three to five are completely open and empty ( Fig.3C ). The first cell of rows one and two and the second cell of rows two and three are completely sealed ( Fig. 3D ). The remaining cells present different degrees of incomplete opening of the cap, each one with a developed adult inside ( Fig.3D ). External cell walls are comprised by irregular-shaped cuttings of leaves intercalated by dark resinous substance, giving it a scale-like appearance ( Figs. 3B, 3D ). Internal walls and the border of the openings are made of finely macerated vegetable matter, giving a more regular appearance.

Measurements: Nest:length = 20.40 mm; width = 15.54 mm; height = 12.30. Cell opening diameter = 2.89 mm ± 0.22 mm.

Figures

Figure 3. Nest of Z.schadei. A) View of the openings.B) Lateral view.C) Closeup showing examples of nest entrances:completely closed (triangle);completely open (arrowhead); and partially open (arrow).D) Close up of leaf fragments on external surface of cells.