Colony Defense Behavior of the Primitively Eusocial Wasp, Mischocyttarus cerberus is Related to Age

The colony defense behavior of the wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus Richards (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) was studied to verify whether there were different reactions of wasps of different ages and hierarchical positions during attacks of ants. Detailed nest mapping was first performed, then the wasps were m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of insect science (Tucson, Ariz.) Vol. 10; no. 136; pp. 1 - 14
Main Authors Togni, Olga Coutinho, Giannotti, Edilberto
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States University of Wisconsin Library 2010
Oxford University Press
Subjects
Age
Age Factors
age polyethism
Animal defenses
Animals
Ants - physiology
Behavior
Behavior, Animal
Cerberus
ethology
Female
hierarchical position
Insect societies
Male
Social Dominance
Wasps
Wasps - physiology
Brazil
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Summary:The colony defense behavior of the wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus Richards (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) was studied to verify whether there were different reactions of wasps of different ages and hierarchical positions during attacks of ants. Detailed nest mapping was first performed, then the wasps were marked and were divided in four distinct categories: queens, older workers, younger workers and males. Tests were made simulating attacks of ants in the nests. The main results showed that the M. cerberus behaviors against ant attacks is more related to the age of the wasps than to their hierarchical position. The oldest wasps (queens and older workers) defend the nest more than the younger workers and males, representing a form of temporal polyethism.
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Associate Editor: Tugrul Giray was editor of this paper.
ISSN:1536-2442
1536-2442
DOI:10.1673/031.010.13601