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Agree, the hive is not typical as it seems. What about Polistes aterrimus?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alephrocco...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tristanba/...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauraceril...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lauraceril...
http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Tax...
http://www.wildwinghoney.co.uk/wasps/
Although it may resemble Synoeca, this wasp is not in the genus. In addition to the body proportions, the petiole is most indicative of this. I have encountered Synoeca cyanea and S. septentrionalis in Costa Rica and Peru, as well as a polistine that looks remarkably similar to yours (https://flic.kr/p/DBBEVS), but I have not been able to get it identified. Also, Synoeca nests are distinct, even in the initial stages of construction. I do not think mimicry has been documented between Synoeca and another polistine (but it has in the mantispid Climaciella sp.), so this record is interesting. This wasp even has red coloration on the mandibles and part of the clypeus.
Synoeca sp., could be Synoeca septentrionalis or Synoeca surinama or Synoeca cyanea.
http://www.vespa-bicolor.net/main/vespid...
http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/...
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/992...
http://eol.org/pages/259318/overview
Please consider adding this spotting to the Animal Architecture mission at http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8082...
Spotted on Feb 9, 2014
Submitted on Feb 13, 2014
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