Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-r5zm4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-20T20:42:06.919Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

PHYSICAL COMPARISONS OF FOUNDRESSES OF THE PAPER WASP, POLISTES METRICUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Jennifer A. Dropkin  and
George J. Gamboa
Jennifer A. Dropkin
Affiliation:
Department of Systematics and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045
George J. Gamboa*
Affiliation:
Department of Systematics and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045
*
1 Address reprint requests to: Dr. G. J. Gamboa, Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI U.S.A. 48063
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In the paper wasp, Polistes metricus Say, subordinates and single foundresses of early colonies (< 16 days old) nesting in the same habitat were very similar in size, reproductive condition, and probability of being fertilized suggesting that these types of foundresses are comparable in reproductive potential. Queens of multiple foundress, early colonies were significantly larger, had larger ovaries, and more oocytes than their subordinates. In late colonies (> 30 days old) the differences in reproductive condition between queens and their subordinates were more pronounced. Reproductive condition and body size are likely to be important characters for sorting foundresses into hierarchies.

Résumé

Chez la guêpe Polistes metricus Say, les subordonnées et les fondatrices isolées de jeunes colonies (< 16 jours) nichant dans le même habitat ont été trouvées très semblables quant à la taille, l’état du système reproducteur et la fréquence d’insémination, indiquant que les deux types de fondatrices sont comparables quant à leur potentiel de reproduction. Les reines de jeunes colonies à fondatrices multiples étaient significativement plus grosses, avaient les ovaires plus développés, et contenaient plus d’ovocytes que leurs subordonnées. Dans les colonies âgées (> 30 jours) les différences entre les reines et leurs subordonnées se sont révélées plus prononcées. L’état du système reproducteur et la taille sont probablement des caractères importants pour l’établissement de hiérarchies chez les fondatrices.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 113 , Issue 6 , June 1981 , pp. 457 - 461
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bohm, M. F. K. 1972. Reproduction in Polistes metricus. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Entomology, University of Kansas.Google Scholar
Eickwort, K. R. 1969. Differential variation of males and females in Polistes exclamans. Evolution 23: 391–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gamboa, G. J. 1978. Intraspecific defense: Advantage of social cooperation among paper wasp foundresses. Science 199: 1463–1465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gamboa, G. J. 1980. Comparative timing of brood development between multiple- and single-foundress colonies of the paper wasp, Polistes metricus. Ecological Ent. 5: 221–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gamboa, G. J. and Dropkin, J. A.. 1979. Comparisons of behaviors in early vs. late foundress associations of the paper wasp, Polistes metricus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Can. Ent. 111: 919–926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gamboa, G. J., Heacock, B. D., and Wiltjer, S. L.. 1978. Division of labor and subordinate longevity in foundress associations of the paper wasp, Polistes metricus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). J. Kans. ent. Soc. 51(3): 343–352.Google Scholar
Gervet, J. 1962. Etude de l'effet de groupe sur la ponte dans la société polygyne de Polistes gallicus L. (Hymen. Vesp.) Insect. Soc. 9: 231–263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gervet, J. 1964. Le comportement d'oophagie différentielle chez Polistes gallicus L. (Hymenoptere, Vespidae). Insect. Soc. 11(4): 343–382.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibo, D. L. 1978. The selective advantage of foundress associations in Polistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): A field study of the effects of predation on productivity. Can. Ent. 110: 519–540.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klahn, J. E. 1979. Philopatric and non-philopatric foundress associations in the social wasp, Polistes fuscatus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 5: 417–424.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Litte, M. 1977. Behavioral ecology of the social wasp, Mischocyttarus mexicanus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 2: 229–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metcalf, R. A. and Whitt, G. S.. 1977 a. Intra-nest relatedness in the social wasp, Polistes metricus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 2: 339–351.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Metcalf, R. A. and Whitt, G. S.. 1977 b. Relative inclusive fitness in the social wasp, Polistes metricus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 2: 353–360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michener, C. D., Brothers, D. J., and Kamm, D. R.. 1971. Interactions in colonies of primitively social bees: Artificial colonies of Lasioglossum zephyrum. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 68(6): 1241–1245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pardi, L. 1948. Dominance order in Polistes wasps. Physiol. Zool. 21(1): 1–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sokal, R. R. and Rohlf, F. J.. 1969. Biometry. W. H. Freeman, San Francisco. 776 pp.Google Scholar
Spradberry, J. P. 1965. The social organization of wasp communities. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 14: 61–86.Google Scholar
Turillazzi, S. and Pardi, L.. 1977. Body size and hierarchy in polygynic nests of Polistes gallicus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Monitore zool. ital. 11: 101–112.Google Scholar
West, M. J. 1967. Foundress association in polistine wasps: Dominance hierarchies and the evolution of social behavior. Science 157: 1584–1585.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
West Eberhard, M. J. 1969. The social biology of polistine wasps. Misc. Publs Mus. Zool. 140. 101 PP.Google Scholar