Natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): a comparison of the two sexes

@article{Sen2010NaturalHA,
  title={Natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): a comparison of the two sexes},
  author={Ruchira Sen and Raghavendra Gadagkar},
  journal={Journal of Natural History},
  year={2010},
  volume={44},
  pages={959 - 968}
}
We report the natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata with a special reference to the males. We found that just as nests of this species are found throughout the year, so are the males. Females spend all their life in their nests but males stay in their natal nests only for 1–12 days and leave to lead a nomadic life. Males maintained in the laboratory can live for up to 140 days. Like all eusocial hymenopteran males, R. marginata males also do not… 
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Contrary to insects inhabiting less-featured landscapes, R. marginata foragers appear to have thorough familiarity with their foraging grounds that enables them to orient and home efficiently after passive displacement.
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Unlike insects inhabiting less-complex landscapes, paper wasps invest more time in familiarising themselves with the landscape before they begin foraging for food, enabling them to increase foraging gain with reduced effort.
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References

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TLDR
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Ropalidia marginata, the most common Indian social wasp, belongs to a crucial stage of social evolution showing no obvious morphological caste differentiation but a behavioural caste differentiation…
Males of the social wasp Ropalidia marginata can feed larvae, given an opportunity
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TLDR
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TLDR
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