1984] 
Hermann & Chao — Mischocyttarus 
61 
Escape and pseudoattack also occur in colonies of P. annularis, P. 
exclamans and P. fuscatus during the preemergence period (un- 
published). 
Mature Colonies 
A mature colony is defined here as one in which daughters have 
emerged (post-emergence colony), and defensive behaviors are 
readily expressed, many of them requiring little provocation. 
Although there is very little difference in nest size between nest 9 of 
Table I (June collection) and nest 1 of Table II (August collection), 
defensive behavior in August was considerably more evident. The 
mean number of cells of the 4 nests collected in August (Table II) 
was 72.5 (SD = 46.3). Few males were found to have emerged (nests 
2, 4, Table II). By comparing the colonies in June and August, we 
noticed that not only the colony structure changes significantly but 
the defensive behaviors demonstrated by colony members are also 
quite different. The change in defensive behaviors could be: 1) a 
seasonal, physiological change in adults, or 2) related to investment, 
such as higher total number of immatures, more older larvae and 
pupae, and more nesting material. 
There was an apparent synchrony of movement among warning 
females toward a moving intruder, due in part to a periodic hooking 
together of their tarsi and legs. This behavior is difficult to describe 
and would have gone unnoticed had it not been recorded on video 
tape and played back at a slower speed. 
A sequence of wing raising, leg waving and wing fluttering was 
readily apparent. Under strong provocation, wing fluttering, leg 
waving and exaggerated abdominal pumping were demonstrated 
simultaneously. The frequency of movement in leg waving was 
Table II. Nest structure and inhabitants of nests of Mischocyttarus m. cubicola at 
Sapelo Island, Georgia, and Haines City, Florida, August 5-8, 23-30, 1983. 
Nest # 
# of Cells 
Adults 
Males Females 
Eggs 
Larvae 
Pupae 
1(HC) 
40 
0 
14 
8 
22 
10 
2(HC) 
42 
1 
15 
8 
13 
14 
3(HC) 
56 
0 
7 
23 
21 
1 
4(S) 
152 
3 
27 
16 
60 
38 
HC, Haines City, Florida; S, Sapelo Island, Georgia. Mean number of cells = 72.5 (SD 
= 46.3). 
