1984] 
Hermann & Chao — Mischocyttarus 
59 
Polistes annularis (Linnaeus) and P. exclamans (unpublished). We 
would classify pseudoattack as a very strong warning behavior. 
Pseudoattack was best demonstrated by M. m. cubicola in more 
mature colonies (found in August on Sapelo Island), while escape 
was more prevalent in younger colonies. 
Other warning behaviors are as follows, some of which have been 
described by Jeanne (1972), Litte (1977, 1979), Starr (1981) and 
Windsor (1972) for this and other species of Mischocyttarus. 
Defensive Posture — antennae forward, wings raised, body lifted 
and mandibles sometimes spread. Strong provocation was necessary 
to elicit this combination of behaviors in young nests. Litte (1979) 
reported that M. flavitarsis males and females both assume a 
defensive posture when disturbed. 
Increased Movement on the Nest — increased movement gives the 
nest an agitated appearance. Increased provocation elicits increased 
movement by adult wasps and apparently lowers the threshhold for 
attack. 
Wing Raising — generally with approximately an angle of 57° - 
107° between wings (X = 84.6, SD = 13.7), and a mean angle of 38° 
above the horizontal plane of the body. While wing raising is one of 
the first warning behaviors elicited in most polistines (Hermann and 
Blum, 1981; Starr, 1981; West Eberhard, 1969), most females of M. 
m. cubicola on young nests did not raise their wings unless they were 
strongly provoked. Wing raising also has been reported for M. 
drewseni by Jeanne (1972) and for M. m. cubicola by Starr (1981). 
Raised wings appear to have two separate positions, a smaller angle 
of separation (approximately 60°) for wasps that are weakly 
provoked and a greater angle of separation (approximately 90- 
100°) for wasps that are strongly provoked. However, there is 
considerable overlap in these two positions. 
Wing Buzzing — a prolonged wing movement, not generally 
demonstrated in early colonies except under strong provocation. 
Wing buzzing was demonstrated by M. flavitarsis (Litte, 1979), but 
adults did not attack in the pre-emergence phase. Attack was 
prevalent following wing buzzing in the post-emergence phase, 
however. 
Wing fluttering — sporadic rapid flapping of wings, of a much 
shorter duration than buzzing. Strong provocation was necessary to 
elicit this behavior in young nests. Wing fluttering frequencies may 
be found in Table III. 
