Un nid de guêpes inversé avec une ouverture secrète.
A recent discovery in Madagascar has unveiled a new species of black and green social wasps named Ropalidia jemmae, found in the native rainforests of Ambohitantely and Ankafobe. This species challenges the conventional design of wasp nests, with its unique "upside-down" structure differing from the typical rounded and three-dimensional nests of other Ropalidia species. The nest of Ropalidia jemmae appears as a flat piece of gray-green lichen attached to a tree, with the entrance of each cell facing the tree trunk and the bottoms of the cells forming a flat "roof" under which up to 30 adult wasps hide.
Unlike other Ropalidia species that create hexagonal cells touching each other on six sides with a front access point, Ropalidia jemmae's innovative nest design serves as camouflage, resembling ordinary lichen on a tree trunk. The inverted nest requires more construction materials, time, and effort compared to the more geometrically aligned nests of other species in the genus. The use of lichen helps conceal the nest from predators like ants, beetles, other wasps, and birds. The flattened roof of the nest, leaning against a tree, further aids in its discreetness.
The discovery of Ropalidia jemmae was made in October 2022 by Len de Beer and Sarobidy Rakotonarivo while exploring the endemic forests of Ankafobe in Madagascar. De Beer's daughter, Jemma, participated in the search for additional specimens, leading to the naming of the new species after her. The green spots on the predominantly black body of Ropalidia jemmae enhance its camouflage, making it less visible to predators.
Madagascar, known as one of the world's "last edens," boasts a high level of biodiversity with over 80% of its species found nowhere else. The island harbors more unique species than any other comparable landmass, making it a hotspot for new discoveries. The forests of Ambohitantely and Ankafobe are described as invaluable fragments of biodiversity housing various endangered endemic species, many of which remain undiscovered. Conservation efforts in Madagascar are crucial to protect these ecosystems and prevent newly discovered species like Ropalidia jemmae from transitioning rapidly from being an undescribed species to a threatened one.
In a related discovery, Ropalidia amabala, a new species found in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, also uses lichen to build its nest directly on a tree trunk. This species, named after the Zulu word for "spots" due to the characteristic markings on its abdomen, blends into its environment with yellowish-white markings on a dark brown body. The evolutionary history suggests that visual camouflage through nest concealment has evolved independently in the Ropalidia genus in Madagascar and South Africa.
The research on these unique wasp species sheds light on the intricate adaptations and evolutionary strategies employed by social wasps to survive in their environments. These findings underscore the importance of biodiversity conservation in preserving fragile ecosystems and undiscovered species, particularly in regions like Madagascar and South Africa with high levels of endemism.
(Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d44148-024-00079-w)
Unlike other Ropalidia species that create hexagonal cells touching each other on six sides with a front access point, Ropalidia jemmae's innovative nest design serves as camouflage, resembling ordinary lichen on a tree trunk. The inverted nest requires more construction materials, time, and effort compared to the more geometrically aligned nests of other species in the genus. The use of lichen helps conceal the nest from predators like ants, beetles, other wasps, and birds. The flattened roof of the nest, leaning against a tree, further aids in its discreetness.
The discovery of Ropalidia jemmae was made in October 2022 by Len de Beer and Sarobidy Rakotonarivo while exploring the endemic forests of Ankafobe in Madagascar. De Beer's daughter, Jemma, participated in the search for additional specimens, leading to the naming of the new species after her. The green spots on the predominantly black body of Ropalidia jemmae enhance its camouflage, making it less visible to predators.
Madagascar, known as one of the world's "last edens," boasts a high level of biodiversity with over 80% of its species found nowhere else. The island harbors more unique species than any other comparable landmass, making it a hotspot for new discoveries. The forests of Ambohitantely and Ankafobe are described as invaluable fragments of biodiversity housing various endangered endemic species, many of which remain undiscovered. Conservation efforts in Madagascar are crucial to protect these ecosystems and prevent newly discovered species like Ropalidia jemmae from transitioning rapidly from being an undescribed species to a threatened one.
In a related discovery, Ropalidia amabala, a new species found in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, also uses lichen to build its nest directly on a tree trunk. This species, named after the Zulu word for "spots" due to the characteristic markings on its abdomen, blends into its environment with yellowish-white markings on a dark brown body. The evolutionary history suggests that visual camouflage through nest concealment has evolved independently in the Ropalidia genus in Madagascar and South Africa.
The research on these unique wasp species sheds light on the intricate adaptations and evolutionary strategies employed by social wasps to survive in their environments. These findings underscore the importance of biodiversity conservation in preserving fragile ecosystems and undiscovered species, particularly in regions like Madagascar and South Africa with high levels of endemism.
(Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d44148-024-00079-w)
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