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Homing in the Digger Wasp Bembix rostrata (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) — Release Direction and Weather Conditions
Author(s) -
Schöne Hermann,
Tengö Jan
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1991.tb01197.x
Subject(s) - sphecidae , hymenoptera , homing (biology) , biology , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , geography , zoology , biochemistry
Wasps were released 500 m S, NW and NE of the nest aggregation. Approaches were over grassland, bush with spinneys, and pines. The sun was visible at releases, but often became concealed by clouds. Homing times are positively correlated with sun cover times. The regression lines indicate a difference between S wasps and NW/NE wasps (S 26, NW 57, NE 66 min). NW wasps appeared to home somewhat better than NE wasps if only the fastest homers were considered. Results are interpreted in terms of the known concepts of sun compass and landmark orientation in relation to familiarity with the release area.