Effects of the Strepsipteran Parasite on the Indian Paper Wasp Polistes Wattii

Abstract

Polistes wasps are eusocial hymenopterans found in both temperate and tropical regions. Paper wasps consist of more than 900 species throughout the world in 25 genera (West-Eberhard et al. 2006; Pickett & Carpenter, 2010). Polistes wattii is one of the temperate species of paper wasps. These paper wasps are infected with an enigmatic Strepsipteran parasite which alters their life history to ensure its own survival. This study tries to explore the taxonomic position of Polistes wattii and to know the identity of the Strepsipteran parasite infecting P. wattii. It also attempts to study the effects of the Strepsipteran parasite on the reproductive status of P. wattii.