SOCIAL-STRUCTURE OF THE PRIMITIVELY EUSOCIAL PAPER WASP ROPALIDIA-GREGARIA-SPILOCEPHALA (CAMERON) (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE) IN QUEENSLAND

Preliminary observations made on the social structure of the primitive ly eusocial paper wasp Ropalidia gregaria spilocephala in Townsville a nd Cairns showed about 80% of nests were established by a single found ress (haplometrotic foundation). This is in contrast to the pleometrot ic tendency found in other Australian Ropalidia (including R. g. grega ria in the Northern Territory). Five of seven post-emergence stage col onies had multiple inseminated females with mature oocytes.