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COMPARISONS OF BEHAVIORS IN EARLY VS. LATE FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PAPER WASP, POLISTES METRICUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

George J. Gamboa  and
Jennifer A. Dropkin
George J. Gamboa
Affiliation:
Department of Systematics and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045
Jennifer A. Dropkin
Affiliation:
Department of Systematics and Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045
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Abstract

A significant number of subordinates of the paper wasp Polistes metricus Say are former single foundresses that have had their position usurped by a more dominant foundress. Such a displaced foundress sometimes remains with the usurper as a subordinate. Some usurpers desert larger nests where they were single foundresses to usurp a smaller colony.

In early foundress associations (< 14 days old), queens frequently exhibit behaviors that are characteristic of subordinates in mature hierarchies. Early queens spend large proportions of their nest time inactive, adjacent to the nest. They also commonly retreat from approaching subordinates. In contrast early subordinates rarely retreat from queens and spend a large proportion of their nest time on the face of the nest where they are more active than the queen. These behaviors are reversed in more mature colonies with queens spending more time on the nest face and showing increasing activity and aggressive behavior towards subordinates.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 111 , Issue 8 , August 1979 , pp. 919 - 926
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1979

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