THE ANTIPREDATOR STRATEGIES OF PARACHARTERGUS-APICALIS (VESPIDAE, POLISTINAE)

The Neotropical wasp Parachartergus apicalis has developed different a nti-predation tactics. As concerns vertebrates, stinging, the principa l dissuasive device, is complemented by the aposematic effect of the w asps themselves, and more than likely, the harmonious form of the wasp nest whose color contrasts with that of its support, As concerns ants , the principal predators of wasps, and among them army ants in the Ne otropics, the wasp nest is protected by (1) its envelope; (2) differen t alarm signals; (3) the possibility of an effective counterattack aga inst a small section of a column of ants; and, especially, (4) its ass ociation with ants of the genera Pseudomyrmex. The wasp Mischocyttarus atramentarius, which has small populations, forages in the same zones as P. apicalis. By using Mullerian mimicry of the aposematic effect o f P. apicalis, M. atramentarius is protected against vertebrates.