| Synoeca | |
|---|---|
_on_their_nest_..._(28918674181).jpg)
| |
| Synoeca cyanea on their nest | |
| |
| S. septentrionalis nest | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Vespidae |
| Subfamily: | Polistinae |
| Tribe: | Epiponini |
| Genus: | Synoeca de Saussure, 1852 |
| Type species | |
| Vespa surinama | |
| Species | |
|
6 described species | |
Synoeca is a genus of eusocial paper wasps found in the tropical forests of the Americas. Commonly known as warrior wasps or drumming wasps, they are known for their aggressive behavior, a threat display consisting of multiple insects guarding a nest beating their wings[2] in a synchronized fashion, and an extremely painful sting (rating at the highest level of 4 in the Schmidt sting pain index). The sting is barbed and if used often kills the wasp,[3] which may be the reason why such a striking defensive display is used. This display escalates from drumming inside the nest to hundreds of wasps moving on to the envelope of the nest and continuing to drum. If this does not deter the threat only then do the wasps begin to sting.[2]
- ^ O.W. Richards (1978). The social wasps of the Americas excluding the Vespinae. The British Museum Natural History. p. 178. ISBN 0565007858.
- ^ a b Hogue, Charles Leonard (1993). Latin American Insects and Entomology. University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-07849-7.
- ^ Hermann, Henry (1971). "Sting Autotomy, a defensive mechanism in certain social Hymenoptera". Insectes Sociaux. 18 (2): 111–120. doi:10.1007/bf02223116. S2CID 42293043.