Nest-plasticity
Guides
Mischocyttarus mexicanus
Mexican Paper Wasp
Mischocyttarus mexicanus is a New World paper wasp exhibiting facultative eusocial behavior, where females can nest either solitarily or in groups and may switch between these strategies throughout life. The species includes at least two subspecies: M. m. mexicanus ranging from Mexico to Costa Rica, and M. m. cubicola distributed across the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Nests are constructed from paper fibers and attached to vegetation, particularly palm fronds. The species serves as an important model for studying the evolutionary advantages of flexible social organization in insects.
Pachodynerus nasidens
Keyhole Wasp
Pachodynerus nasidens, commonly known as the keyhole wasp, is a solitary mason wasp in the family Vespidae, subfamily Eumeninae. Native to the Neotropics, it has been introduced to Hawaii, Micronesia, Australia, and the northern United States. The species exhibits remarkable nesting plasticity, utilizing abandoned insect galleries, human-made cavities, and even aircraft pitot tubes. Females provision nests with paralyzed caterpillars as food for their larvae. The species has gained notoriety for causing aviation safety incidents by blocking pitot probes with mud nests, leading to unreliable airspeed readings.