Ecological and systematical studies on Vespidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea) species of Kayseri province

This study is based on 654 Vespidae (Insecta.Hymenoptera) samples which are collected from Kayseri province between May and August in 1997. At the end of the study, 3 species belonging to the subfamily Vespinae: Vespa orientalis (Linnaeus 1771), Vespula (Paravespula) germanica, (Fabricius, 1793) Dolichovespula (Metavespula) sylvestris, (Scopoli, 1763); 3 species belonging to the subfamily Polistinae: Polistes (Leptopolistes) gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767), Polistes (s.str.) nimpha (Christ, 1791), Polistes (s.str.) dominulus dominulus (Christ, 1791) were found. From these species Polistes (Leptopolistes) gallicus (Linnaeus, 1767), Polistes (s.str.) nimpha, (Christ, 1791), Polistes (s.str.) dominulus dominulus (Christ, 1791) are new records for the studyarea region. Identification keys for the species were prepared and some morphological charactars were described in detail. Systematically important body structures of taxa were drawn. Vertical and horizontal distributions of species as well as ecology and phenologiesIll were given. Moreover, their distribitions in Turkey and in the world were also given. The results were discussed from the systematic and faunistic standpoint. Science code :40 1.04.04. Key Words -.Hymenoptera, Vespoidea, Vespidae, Systematics, Faunistic, Turkey, Kayseri. Page number :69 Adviser :Assosiated Prof. Dr. Ayla TÜZÜN