Presocial-behavior
Guides
Philanthus gibbosus
Hump-backed Beewolf, Beewolf
Philanthus gibbosus, commonly known as the hump-backed beewolf, is a solitary bee-hunting wasp and the most common and widespread member of its genus in North America. Females construct underground burrows in sandy soils and provision them with paralyzed bees as food for their larvae. The species exhibits a bivoltine life cycle with two generations per year, and shows a tendency toward temporary communal nesting behavior unusual for solitary wasps.
Platycotis
Platycotis is a genus of treehoppers in the family Membracidae, comprising approximately 13 described species. The genus is characterized by pronounced pronotal modifications typical of the family. The best-studied species, P. vittata (the oak treehopper), exhibits presocial behavior including maternal egg guarding and nymphal aggregations. Species in this genus are associated with woody host plants, particularly oaks.
Platycotis vittata
Oak Treehopper
Platycotis vittata, commonly known as the oak treehopper, is a North American treehopper species in the family Membracidae. It is an obligate specialist on oak trees (Quercus spp.) and exhibits notable presocial behavior including maternal care of eggs and nymphs. Adults are 9–13 mm in length with variable coloration ranging from sea green to bronze, olive green, or pale blue with red dots or four lengthwise stripes. The species is bivoltine, producing two discrete generations in early spring and autumn, with females of both generations entering diapause. Males locate and court females using substrate-borne vibrational signals.