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Site fidelity and long-distance homing by males of solitary parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2013

Soichiro Tani  and
Takatoshi Ueno
Soichiro Tani*
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Control, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
Takatoshi Ueno
Affiliation:
Institute of Biological Control, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Hakozaki 6-10-1, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: scoliidae@gmail.com).
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Abstract

Site fidelity and long-distance homing are known to occur in nesting female Hymenoptera. We report here on the site fidelity and homing ability in males of five species of scoliid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), a group whose females do not make nests but are ectoparasitoids of scarabaeid beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). The males of these wasp species patrol female emergence areas searching for mates. Based on mark-recapture data, we found that between 40% and 100% of marked males left the release area and travelled 50–800 m from the point of capture returning to their original patrol area. We discuss the adaptive significance of site fidelity and homing behaviour in Scoliidae, and propose hypotheses about the evolution of the homing behaviour in Hymenoptera. The homing ability of these primitive Aculeata may represent a case of convergent evolution with other Hymenoptera in which males patrol emergence areas in search of females. Additionally, this homing ability may serve as a preadaptation for the evolution of nest-provisioning and nesting habits in Hymenoptera.

Résumé

On sait qu'il existe une fidélité au site et un comportement de retour au site sur une grande distance chez les femelles nidificatrices d'hyménoptères. Nous décrivons ici la fidélité au site et la capacité de retour au site d'origine chez des espèces de scolies (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae), un groupe dont les femelles ne construisent pas de nid, mais qui sont des ectoparasitoïdes de scarabées (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). Les mâles de ces espèces de guêpes patrouillent les zones d’émergence des femelles à la recherche de partenaires sexuels. Des données de marquage-recapture indiquent qu'entre 40% et 100% des mâles marqués quittent le point de libération et parcourent des distance4s de 50–800 m du point de capture avant de retourner à leur point original de patrouille. Nous discutons de la signification adaptative de la fidélité au site et du comportement de retour au site chez les Scoliidae et nous proposons des hypothèses explicatives de l’évolution du comportement de retour au site chez les hyménoptères. Le capacité de retour au site chez ces aculéates primitifs peut représenter un cas d’évolution convergente avec d'autres hyménoptères dont les mâles patrouillent les zones d’émergence à la recherche de femelles. De plus, cette capacité de retour au site a pu servir de pré-adaptation à l’évolution de l'approvisionnement des nids et des comportements de nidification chez les hyménoptères.

Type
Behaviour & Ecology – NOTE
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 145 , Issue 3 , June 2013 , pp. 333 - 337
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2013 

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