Nest Hydrocarbons as Cues for Philopatry in a Paper Wasp

Autor:	Philip T. Starks, Annagiri Sumana, Colin M. Orians, Ghislaine T Switz, Anne S. Berry, Aviva E Liebert
Rok vydání:	2005
Předmět:	Paper wasp Aculeata biology Vespidae Nest Ecology Animal Science and Zoology Animal communication Philopatry Hymenoptera Polistes biology.organism_classification Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics
Zdroj:	Ethology. 111:469-477
ISSN:	1439-0310 0179-1613
DOI:	10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01072.x
Popis:	Philopatric behavior has been demonstrated in a wide taxonomic spread of animals. In temperate environments, overwintered Polistes wasp foundresses often return to their natal nest prior to initiating colony construction. Previous research has shown that these spring foundresses can identify the natal nest in the absence of landmark and gross morphological cues. Hydrocarbons are essential recognition cues for Polistes nest and nestmate discrimination, but cuticular hydrocarbon profiles can become homogenized when foundresses overwinter in mixed colony groups. We examined the hydrocarbon profiles of Polistes dominulus foundresses and nests before and after an overwintering period, and found that the hydrocarbon profiles of nests remain unique over time and that this uniqueness is influenced by the original foundresses. Our data raise the possibility that in returning to the natal nest, foundresses reacquire their colony-specific signature, which may play a role in the formation of cooperative associations.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::71892e26159c11d362ed440d5736605b https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.2005.01072.x Zobrazit plný text záznamu Plný text