Nesting Biology of <i>Odynerus albopictus calcaratus</i> (Morawitz, 1885) and <i>Odynerus femoratus</i> de Saussure, 1856 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae)
Journal: Journal of Insects
Year: 2013

The nesting biology of Odynerus albopictus calcaratus and Odynerus femoratus was studied in the Crimea (south of Ukraine); 46 nests of O. a. calcaratus and 18 nests of O. femoratus were examined. Both species nest on horizontal ground surfaces. The nests are vertical burrows surmounted by turrets. Females use water during nest construction and retrieve mud pellets from the nest burrow; these pellets are of two distinct sizes: small ones are used for the turret construction and big ones are dropp