Overwintering Habits of the Social Wasp, Parapolybia crocea Saito-Morooka, Nguyen & Kojima, 2015 (Vespidae: Polistinae: Ropalidiini)

Key Points

• The overwintering behavior of social wasps is influenced by both related and unrelated females, as they form clusters.
• Females, including gynes and workers, frequently interact within their overwintering cluster during hibernation.
• Wasps move between neighboring hibernation sites before settling down for hibernation, indicating social behavior.
• The study sheds light on the social dynamics and relatedness among overwintering females of Parapolybia crocea.