Synoeca surinama
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
Synoeca surinama is a Neotropical swarm-founding wasp of the tribe Epiponini. It is known for its metallic blue and black appearance and painful sting. S. surinama builds nests on tree trunks and can be found in tropical climates of South America. When preparing to swarm, there are a number of pre-swarming behaviors that members of S. surinama colonies partake in, such as buzzing runs and occasional brood cannibalism. In S. surinama, social environmental conditions determine the caste ranks of individuals in the developing brood. Unlike less primitive Hymenoptera species, S. surinama display little morphological variation between egg laying queens and workers. S. surinama wasps visit flowering plants and are considered pollinators. When these wasps sting, the stinger is left in the victim and the wasp ultimately dies.
The genus Synoeca is small, monophyletic, and is made up of the five species S. chalibea, S. virginea, S. septentrionalis, S. surinama, and S. cyanea The sister species of S. surinama within the genus is S. cyanea. S. surinama is a medium-sized wasp that is blueish-black in color and can appear metallic... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Synoeca surinama sighting in São Luís on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 16th most-seen of the 93 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Synoeca surinama in São Luís on a given day, against under 5% in January–February and June–August, the lowest months. That is one of São Luís's driest months, with about 45 mm of rain against 360 mm in April.
Yes
Of the 3 cities where we can rate Synoeca surinama sightings, São Luís has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Manaus (Brazil, about 20%) and Belém (Brazil, about 10%).
Same order: Hymenoptera
The closest relatives of the Synoeca surinama that you can see in São Luís (order Hymenoptera, Ants, Bees, Wasps, and Sawflies) are Polybia sericea (about 40%), Cephalotes clypeatus (about 30%) and Yellow-Banded Polybia Wasp (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Synoeca surinama is recorded against all the insects logged in São Luís (22 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
