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The weaver wasp: Spinning fungus into a nest

Abstract:

Wasp nests range from simple to complex structures made of paper or mud. Here, we show that a Neotropical wasp of the genus Nitela builds its nest entirely by weaving endophytic fungal hyphae and spider silk harvested from the leaves growing in the understory of the rain forest in French Guiana. © 2010 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2010 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.