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Arthropod Diversity and Conservation in the Tropics and Sub-tropics pp 197–211Cite as

Diversity and Distribution of Sphecoid Wasps in Kerala, India: Bioindicators of Habitat Quality

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Abstract

Sphecoid wasps, superfamily Apoidea, series Spheciformes with 9706 species in the world come under 318 genera. The life histories of Spheciformes include hunting strategies and solitary to communal nesting to eusociality. They are mainly beneficial and relatively harmless to man. The diversity and distribution of sphecoid wasps at the genus level, with 9 subfamilies and 74 genera, are being reported in India, out of which 8 subfamilies and 35 genera occur in Kerala. A comprehensive analysis of these wasps in Kerala is provided. The food items and habitat patches the wasps prefer are specific so that the changes in the population of wasps can be related to changes in the food and habitat.

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Acknowledgments

The first author wishes to acknowledge Council of Scientiific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for the “MANF-09” financial assistance. The authors wish to acknowledge the late Dr. T. C. Narendran for continued support, encouragement, and guidance. The authors are also grateful to Dr. Karmaly, St. Xavier’s college, Aluva, Kerala.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, St. Thomas College, Thrissur, Kerala, 680 001, India

    Baaby Job & J. L. Olakkengill

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  1. Baaby Job
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  2. J. L. Olakkengill
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Correspondence to Baaby Job .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Akshay Kumar Chakravarthy

  2. Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Shakunthala Sridhara

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Job, B., Olakkengill, J.L. (2016). Diversity and Distribution of Sphecoid Wasps in Kerala, India: Bioindicators of Habitat Quality. In: Chakravarthy, A., Sridhara, S. (eds) Arthropod Diversity and Conservation in the Tropics and Sub-tropics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1518-2_12

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