Ethology of the pollen wasp Rolandia maculata 
347 
moonnii im 
(coating inner end of cocoon to dotted line) and (in circle) detail of cocoon wall (1, delicate inner layer of 
silk; 2, thick middle layer of silk; 3, network of coarse silk fibres attached to sand grains (4)); B, rear end of 
cocoon of tHyptiogaster arenicola showing outer surface pattern; C, newly initiated provision mass of R. 
maculata with egg in inner end of cell (plan view); D, sketch of completed provision mass in brood cell 
(viewed from side and slightly from below) with newly hatched larva (some detail of upper surface of 
provision lost as a result of damage during excavation); E, same provision mass viewed from outer end. 
Scale line 5 mm. 
propleura and fore legs (Figures 2, 3). The head 
capsule and the large mandibles are excavated 
posteriorly, forming a shallow basin with a distinct 
rim. A fringe of long, erect setae occurs along the 
rim. The propleuron is comparatively large and flat 
and also has lateral fringes of long, erect setae 
which mesh with those of the head forming a 'cage' 
which serves to contain sand grains at the sides. 
The fore legs have expanded fore femora, 
somewhat flattened on their anterior surfaces with 
a ventral fringe of long, erect setae, and support 
the loads of sand from below. 
Foraging 
Females were observed to forage only on yellow 
and red flowers of Jacksonia species. In Kings Park, 
the species visited were J. sericea Bentham and /. 
sternbergiana Huegel. Both are leafless shrubs, the 
former having a dense spreading habit and not 
exceeding 60 cm in height, the latter having a 
spindly erect form and growing to 4 m. Most 
foraging adults were observed on /. sericea, females 
taking both nectar and pollen. Other Jacksonia 
species at which R. maculata has been recorded 
include J. stricta Meissn. (Neerabup National Park) 
and /. spinosa (Labill.) (Moore River National Park). 
Females spent 1-3 seconds on each flower and 
held their wings erect while alighted. When 
collecting both pollen and nectar, a female first 
probes deep into the nectary, then backs up slightly 
to hunch over the anthers (released from the 
flower's 'keel' by downward pressure from the 
wasps' mid and hind legs) and the anthers contact 
the underside of her thorax. The propleura, fore 
coxae, fore trochanters and mesepisternum are 
clothed with stiff erect setae, many of which are 
bent at the tips, and several pinned females in the 
WAM collection carry considerable amounts of 
pollen among these setae. Evidently, this vestiture 
serves as a pollen collector and the pollen is most 
likely groomed off to the mouth with the brush¬ 
like fore tarsi (although no direct observations 
were made to confirm this). 
Male behaviour 
Numerous males were observed flying 
