Social behaviour ofRopalidia fasciata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) females on satellite nests and on a nest with multiple combs

The social behaviour ofRopalidia fasciata females on 3 satellite nests and on a nest with multiple, independent combs was observed. Many females often visited satellite nests, and even dominant foundresses, who usually spent more of their time on the nest, became active when satellite nests were being constructed. Three foundresses laid eggs on a satellite nest and eggs laid by 2 of these (who performed foraging) survived. On another satellite nest, only the dominant foundress laid an egg which survived. On a nest consisting of 2 independent combs, females frequently shifted between the 2 combs even after the emergence of many adults. Constructions of satellite nests and of multiple independent combs are considered to be adaptive for this species living in Okinawa, where most of nests are destroyed by frequent typhoons or abandoned after predation by ants.