Foraging Activity in Polybia striata (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Foraging ensures resource acquisition for feeding, nest construction, and colony maintenance in social wasps. This study examined the foraging activity and dripping behavior of Polybia striata (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in an urban environment, analyzing their correlation with temperature and humidity. Observations took place on the campus of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, totaling 50 hours between January and February 2018. Every 30 minutes, departures and returns to the nest were recorded, along with climatic variables. Foraging activity peaked between 9:00 and 13:30, the hottest period of the day. The number of departures increased with temperature and decreased with humidity, suggesting that hottest conditions favor foraging while high humidity inhibits it. Always after rainfall, wasps engaged in dripping behavior, regurgitating small water droplets from the nest structure. This behavior occurred more frequently in the morning and was linked to nest maintenance. In addition to advancing knowledge of the species' ecology, this study may inform management strategies in urban areas.