Mexican Honey Wasp

Appearance

In general, external reproductive organs can distinguish males from females; only females have stingers. Workers and males share the same coloration. They both have alternating abdominal bands of yellow and black. Queens characteristically have a dark reddish-brown abdominal coloration. Queens can also be distinguished from workers due to the occurrence of sperm in the spermathecae of the queens. ''B. mellifica'' are small, with a body length of 7-9mm.

Distribution

''B. mellifica'' is found in a range from northern Panama through most of subtropical Central America and Mexico. They are also found in southeastern Arizona and the most southern counties of Texas.

Habitat

''B. mellifica'' builds its nest in the canopy of a shrub or a tree, often 1 to 9 m above the ground. Nests are often reported to be located in suburban settings that are close to human habitation. They are well covered in the foliage in which they are built. These nests can be threatened by urban development, such as in Texas.

Reproduction

''B. mellifica'' make paper nests that range in size from 40–50 cm in diameter. These nests are quite full and can house anywhere from 3,500 to 18,700 wasps. The nest begins as a single irregular layer of cells attached to the first layer of carton on a branch. Clumps of cells on the branch are then extended into the first hanging layer. Successive layers are formed independently and extend out and around the bottom of the first layer. This happens multiple times around and over the previous layer, resulting in a growing spiral. The nest goes from a small, flat oval to a sausage- or capsule-like shape over time. The surface of the nest is blotchy, colored brown or grey, varying as a result of the raw materials used for construction. The texture of the surface is that of rough cardboard, and is not glossy.

Food

''B. mellifica'' is very good at searching and feeding on ''Diaphorina citri'' in tree flushes, an introduced species that has become one of their major prey items. These wasps feed not only on the fluids from the prey, but may also eat the entire exoskeleton of ''D. citri''. ''B. mellifica'' also may consume larvae of ''Anthonomus aeneoulus'' Dietz and a moth from the family Alucitidae. Trophallaxis, or regurgitation, has also been observed on the nest surface of the Mexican honey wasp, in which the forager regurgitates a drop of nectar to a responsive wasp.''Brachygastra mellifica'' serve as food source for the Popoluca Town of Los Reyes Metzontla, Mexico. The Popolucas have at least 17 species of insects in their diet, including ''B. mellifica''. The Spanish local name for this delicacy is "Panal Miniagua", and the Popoluca name is "Cuchii". They eat the honey and larva of these wasps year round, but only harvest when the moon is between its last quarter and waning gibbous. According to traditional knowledge and experience, the nests are full of honey and larvae at this time. These insects can be cooked and used in food items such as tacos and larvae, and are considered a delicacy.

Predators

''Diogmites angustipennis'' is a robber fly known to prey on honeybees that has been observed preying in ''B. mellifica''. Orb weaving spiders have also been known to take single wasps as prey outside the nest. Attacks on the entire nest are also common. Both opossums and golden-fronted woodpeckers have been seen dissecting a nest. Other dismembered nests have damage that is similar to the damage caused by the woodpeckers to the nests.