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Amstrup AB, Kovac H, Käfer H, Stabentheiner A, Sørensen JG. The heat shock response in Polistes spp. brood from differing climates following heat stress. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 156:104667. [PMID: 38914156 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2024.104667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Temperature is a crucial factor in many physiological processes, especially in small ectotherms whose body temperature is highly influenced by ambient temperature. Polistes (paper wasps) is a genus of primitively eusocial wasps found in widely varying thermal environments throughout the world. Paper wasps construct open-faced combs in which the brood is exposed to varying ambient temperatures. The Heat Shock Response is a physiological mechanism that has been shown to help cope with thermal stress. We investigated the expression of heat shock proteins in different life stages of three species of Polistes from different climates with the aim of deducing adaptive patterns. This was done by assaying heat shock protein (hsp70, hsp83, hsc70) expression during control conditions (25 °C) or a heat insult (35 or 45 °C) in individuals collected from natural populations in Alpine, Temperate, or Mediterranean climates. Basal expression of hsc70 and hsp83 was found to be high, while hsp70 and hsp83 expression was found to be highly responsive to severe heat stress. As expression levels varied based on species, geographical origin, and life stage as well as between heat shock proteins, the Heat Shock Response of Polistes was found to be complex. The results suggest that adaptive utilization of the heat shock response contributes to the ability of Polistes spp. to inhabit widely different thermal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Amstrup
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - H Kovac
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
| | - H Käfer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - J G Sørensen
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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2
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Mohamadzade Namin S, Son M, Jung C. Uncovering floral composition of paper wasp nests (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistes) through DNA metabarcoding. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2830. [PMID: 38310136 PMCID: PMC10838270 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52834-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As the social organism, Polistes wasps build a communal nest using woody fibers with saliva for sustaining brood and adult population throughout the season. Limited information exists regarding the identification specific plant materials employed in wasp nest building. Thus, we firstly tested if the DNA metabarcoding approach utilizing rbcL and trnL molecular markers could identify the plant species quantitatively and qualitatively inform the mixed-origin woody samples. A threshold of 0.01 proportion of reads was applied for rbcL and trnL molecular markers, while this threshold for median proportion was 0.0025. In assessing taxa richness, the median proportion demonstrated superior performance, exhibiting higher taxa detection power, however, rbcL marker outperformed in quantitative analysis. Subsequently, we applied DNA metabarcoding to identify the plant materials from the nests of two Polistes species, P. mandarinus and P. rothneyi. The results showed that higher preference of Quercus and Robinia as the major nest building materials regardless of the surrounding plant communities, by two wasp species. Material diversity was higher for P. rothneyi than P. mandarinus, which may explain the abundance of this species possibly with heightened adaptive capacities in their nesting behavior. This study demonstrated that DNA metabarcoding could identify the complex nest-building plant materials of paper wasps and provide insights into their ecological interactions in the natural ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Mohamadzade Namin
- Agricultural Science and Technology Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Minwoong Son
- Rural Development Administration (RDA), Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chuleui Jung
- Agricultural Science and Technology Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Priyanto A, Ahmad Hapidin D, Xaveriano Waresindo W, Susanto S, Prasetya Aji M, Khairurrijal K. Paper wasps larval formations from the perspective of physics. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:1827-1830. [PMID: 36992653 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
From a physics perspective, paper wasps arrange larval systems in specific formations to attain mechanical stability for the nest. The closer the distance between the center of mass of the larval system (CML) and the center of mass of the nest (CMN), the lower the moment of force generated by the larval system, resulting in a more stable nest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aan Priyanto
- Doctoral Program of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
- Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | - Dian Ahmad Hapidin
- Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | - William Xaveriano Waresindo
- Doctoral Program of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
- Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | - Susanto Susanto
- Physics Division, Cahaya Rancamaya Islamic Boarding School, Bogor, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
| | | | - Khairurrijal Khairurrijal
- Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
- Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Institut Teknologi Sumatera, Jalan Terusan Ryacudu, Lampung Selatan, Indonesia
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4
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Kovac H, Nagy JM, Käfer H, Stabentheiner A. Relationship between Nest and Body Temperature and Microclimate in the Paper Wasp Polistes dominula. INSECTS 2023; 14:886. [PMID: 37999085 PMCID: PMC10672314 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The paper wasp Polistes dominula is a thermophilic species originating from the Mediterranean climate, but is now widely spread in Europe. They live in quite differing habitats; and as synanthropic species, they have been established in human settlement areas. They build a single small comb at protected places with a favorable microclimate. We measured the temperature of the wasps, the nests and their environment at typical nesting sides in Austria (Europe) in the temperate climate, in order to reveal relationships between nest and body temperature and the habitats' microclimate. The temperatures of the comb and of the wasps' body were in a wide range (~20-37 °C) above the ambient air temperature at the nest. This is an advantage as higher temperatures accelerate the development speed of the brood. However, the mean comb temperature did not exceed approximately 38.6 °C. This was managed by cooling efforts of the adult wasps. The ambient air temperature near the nest (~1-2 cm) was always clearly elevated above the ambient air temperature at a local standard weather station in the habitat. A comparison with climate-model-generated macroclimate data revealed the necessity of measuring microclimate data for a reliable description of the insects' thermal environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Kovac
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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Sedira N, Pinto J, Ginja M, Gomes AP, Nepomuceno MCS, Pereira S. Investigating the Architecture and Characteristics of Asian Hornet Nests: A Biomimetics Examination of Structure and Materials. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:7027. [PMID: 37959626 PMCID: PMC10647307 DOI: 10.3390/ma16217027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the internal architecture of Asian hornet nests (AHNs) using advanced imaging techniques, such as CT scanning and X-ray radiography, to understand their construction and function. The primary objective and significance of this study centre on drawing inspiration from the creative way Asian hornets construct their nests, with a particular focus on the architecture, design, functionality, and building materials of these nests. The architectural principles governing the construction of these nests, such as the arrangement of hexagonal cells, pedicels for load bearing, and adhesive materials, serve as a source of inspiration for innovative and sustainable design practices. The pedicels in Asian hornet nests play a crucial role in transferring load and ensuring stability. Additionally, AHNs' adhesion to tree branches is essential for preventing collapse, and the pedicels provide necessary structural support. The knowledge gained from studying AHNs' internal architecture could be applied directly to the architecture and civil engineering fields to improve structure stability and durability. The microstructure analysis of the paper-like material that hornets produce to build their nests indicates a complex and heterogeneous structure, composed of various plant fragments and fibres. This unique composition creates intricate grooves and pores, which are essential for regulating temperature and humidity levels within the outer envelope of the nest. The study of Asian hornet nests' internal structure demonstrated that nature's engineering principles inspire the design of durable and resilient structures in the construction industry. Civil engineers can incorporate similar principles into their designs to enhance the structural integrity and performance of buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naim Sedira
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (J.P.); (M.G.); (S.P.)
- C-MADE–Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, UBI, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pinto
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (J.P.); (M.G.); (S.P.)
- C-MADE–Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, UBI, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Mário Ginja
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (J.P.); (M.G.); (S.P.)
- Centre for Animal Sciences and Veterinary Studies (CECAV), UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana P. Gomes
- University of Beira Interior (UBI), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.P.G.); (M.C.S.N.)
- FibEnTech–Fiber Materials and Environmental Technologies, Optical Centre, UBI, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Miguel C. S. Nepomuceno
- C-MADE–Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, UBI, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
- University of Beira Interior (UBI), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal; (A.P.G.); (M.C.S.N.)
- Lab2PT, Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sandra Pereira
- University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal; (J.P.); (M.G.); (S.P.)
- C-MADE–Centre of Materials and Building Technologies, UBI, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
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Bouchebti S, Domer A, Bodner L, Levin E. Passive heat diffusion in nests with downward-facing cells: Implications for early colony development in social wasps. J Therm Biol 2023; 116:103657. [PMID: 37473462 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Social insects employ a variety of active and passive mechanisms for nest thermoregulation. Many social wasp species exhibit a particular nest-architecture by building their nests with cells facing downward. By using thermal imaging to characterize the heat diffusion throughout Oriental hornet nests from different angular positions, we show that the heat diffusion along the vertical gradient of nests is more efficient when the cell openings face downward than when facing sideways or upward, demonstrating the efficiency of this specific architecture in increasing the nest temperature. This passive thermoregulation mechanism could be especially important during the initial stage of the colony, when the queen is alone to rear her first brood. Among the social insects that build cells to raise their brood, we suggest that wasps can take advantage of the thermal benefits of this particular architecture of their cells as, unlike bees, they do not usually store food in them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Bouchebti
- School of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
| | - Adi Domer
- School of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Levona Bodner
- School of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel
| | - Eran Levin
- School of Zoology, George S Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 6997801, Israel.
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Stabentheiner A, Nagy JM, Kovac H, Käfer H, Petrocelli I, Turillazzi S. Effect of climate on strategies of nest and body temperature regulation in paper wasps, Polistes biglumis and Polistes gallicus. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3372. [PMID: 35233017 PMCID: PMC8888551 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07279-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Polistes paper wasps are a widespread taxon inhabiting various climates. They build nests in the open without a protective outer layer, which makes them vulnerable to changing temperatures. To better understand the options they have to react to environmental variation and climate change, we here compare the thermoregulatory behavior of Polistes biglumis from cool Alpine climate with Polistes gallicus from warm Mediterranean climate. Behavioral plasticity helps both of them to withstand environmental variation. P. biglumis builds the nests oriented toward east-south-east to gain solar heat of the morning sun. This increases the brood temperature considerably above the ambience, which speeds up brood development. P. gallicus, by contrast, mostly avoids nesting sites with direct insolation, which protects their brood from heat stress on hot days. To keep the brood temperature below 40–42 °C on warm days, the adults of the two species show differential use of their common cooling behaviors. While P. biglumis prefers fanning of cool ambient air onto the nest heated by the sun and additionally cools with water drops, P. gallicus prefers cooling with water drops because fanning of warm ambient air onto a warm nest would not cool it, and restricts fanning to nests heated by the sun.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Stabentheiner
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Julia Magdalena Nagy
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.,Department of Neuroscience and Developmental Biology, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Wien, Austria
| | - Helmut Kovac
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Helmut Käfer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Iacopo Petrocelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Stefano Turillazzi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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8
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Lorenzi MC. Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts. INSECTS 2021; 12:insects12111006. [PMID: 34821806 PMCID: PMC8624806 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Social parasites use a variety of deceptive mechanisms to avoid detection by their social-insect hosts and get tolerance in their colonies. One of these mechanisms is chemical insignificance, where social parasites have reduced amounts of recognition cues—hydrocarbons—on their cuticle, thus evading host chemical detection. This exposes social parasites to dehydration stress, as cuticular hydrocarbons also limit body water loss. By analyzing behavioral data from field observations, here we show that a Polistes wasp social parasite exhibits water-saving behaviors; parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadow, contradicting the rule that dominant individuals occupy prominent positions at the nest. Abstract Social parasites have evolved adaptations to overcome host resistance as they infiltrate host colonies and establish there. Among the chemical adaptations, a few species are chemically “insignificant”; they are poor in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and evade host detection. As cuticular hydrocarbons also serve a waterproofing function, chemical insignificance is beneficial as it protects parasites from being detected but is potentially harmful because it exposes parasites to desiccation stress. Here I tested whether the social parasites Polistes atrimandibularis employ behavioral water-saving strategies when they live at Polistes biglumis colonies. Observations in the field showed that parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadowy, back face of the nest, rather than at the front face, which contradicted expectations for the use of space for dominant females—typically, dominants rest at the nest front-face. These data suggest that behavioral adaptations might promote resistance to desiccation stress in chemical insignificant social parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cristina Lorenzi
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, LEEC, UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, F-93430 Villetaneuse, France
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Perez R, Aron S. Adaptations to thermal stress in social insects: recent advances and future directions. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1535-1553. [PMID: 33021060 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Thermal stress is a major driver of population declines and extinctions. Shifts in thermal regimes create new environmental conditions, leading to trait adaptation, population migration, and/or species extinction. Extensive research has examined thermal adaptations in terrestrial arthropods. However, little is known about social insects, despite their major role in ecosystems. It is only within the last few years that the adaptations of social insects to thermal stress have received attention. Herein, we discuss what is currently known about thermal tolerance and thermal adaptation in social insects - namely ants, termites, social bees, and social wasps. We describe the behavioural, morphological, physiological, and molecular adaptations that social insects have evolved to cope with thermal stress. We examine individual and collective responses to both temporary and persistent changes in thermal conditions and explore the extent to which individuals can exploit genetic variability to acclimatise. Finally, we consider the costs and benefits of sociality in the face of thermal stress, and we propose some future research directions that should advance our knowledge of individual and collective thermal adaptations in social insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rémy Perez
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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10
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Kovac H, Kundegraber B, Käfer H, Petrocelli I, Stabentheiner A. Relation between activity, endothermic performance and respiratory metabolism in two paper wasps: Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 250:110804. [PMID: 32920209 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is expected to produce shifts in species distributions as well as behavioural and physiological adaptations to find suitable conditions or to cope with the altered environment. The paper wasps Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus are closely related species, native in the European Mediterranean region and North Africa. P. dominula has expanded its range to the relatively cooler climates of Northern and Eastern Europe, but P. gallicus remained in its original distribution area. In order to reveal their metabolic adaptation to the current climate conditions, and the impact on energy demand at future climate conditions, we investigated the respiratory metabolic rate (CO2 production) of P. dominula from Austria and P. gallicus from Italy. In contrast to the metabolic cold adaptation hypothesis their standard metabolic rate was nearly the same and increased in a typical exponential course with increasing ambient temperature. The metabolic rate of active wasps was higher than the standard metabolic rate and increased with the wasps' activity. There was no obvious difference in the active metabolism between the two species, with the exception that some P. gallicus individuals showed some extraordinary high values. A simultaneous measurement of metabolic rate and body temperature revealed that increased CO2 production was accompanied by endothermic activity. The two investigated populations of paper wasps are quite similar in their metabolic response to temperature, although they live in different climate regions. The spread of P. dominula into cooler regions did not have significant influence on their active and standard metabolic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Kovac
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Austria.
| | | | - Helmut Käfer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Austria
| | - Iacopo Petrocelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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11
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Effect of temperature on the chemical profiles of nest materials of social wasps. J Therm Biol 2019; 84:214-220. [PMID: 31466756 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Social insects depend on their nests for protection against predation and abiotic threats. Accordingly, the chemical compounds present in the material wasps use to build their nests can both facilitate communication and repel predators. It is herein hypothesized that different wasp species build their nests with different structure and substrate materials and that such materials consist of chemical compounds related to unique wasp behavior and outside temperature variation. To test this hypothesis, nests were collected from three species of social wasps, the samples of which were subjected to temperature variation under laboratory conditions. The compounds present in the substrate were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Chemical compounds identified in the nest material of the three species responded differently to temperature variation. Chemical compounds from Polybia nests were altered significantly when subjected to temperature variation, whereas the nests of Polistes versicolor did not significantly change in relation to the control. The differences found between Polistes and Polybia nests may be related to genetic factors, but also to the type of nest they construct. It is possible that divergent evolutionary strategies for maintaining colony temperature, as a function of the chemical composition of the nests, may have appeared between wasps that have open and closed nests. In relatively small colonies, nest substrate is more resistant to temperature variation because it is composed of a greater diversity of elements and thus capable of holding heavier, longer carbon chains. Our results suggest that chemical compounds in the nest material of the three wasp species analysed responded differently to fluctuating ambient temperatures and that such variation could result from the biochemical differences of unique wasp species or from thermoregulation strategies of colonies.
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12
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Schroeder TBH, Houghtaling J, Wilts BD, Mayer M. It's Not a Bug, It's a Feature: Functional Materials in Insects. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1705322. [PMID: 29517829 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Over the course of their wildly successful proliferation across the earth, the insects as a taxon have evolved enviable adaptations to their diverse habitats, which include adhesives, locomotor systems, hydrophobic surfaces, and sensors and actuators that transduce mechanical, acoustic, optical, thermal, and chemical signals. Insect-inspired designs currently appear in a range of contexts, including antireflective coatings, optical displays, and computing algorithms. However, as over one million distinct and highly specialized species of insects have colonized nearly all habitable regions on the planet, they still provide a largely untapped pool of unique problem-solving strategies. With the intent of providing materials scientists and engineers with a muse for the next generation of bioinspired materials, here, a selection of some of the most spectacular adaptations that insects have evolved is assembled and organized by function. The insects presented display dazzling optical properties as a result of natural photonic crystals, precise hierarchical patterns that span length scales from nanometers to millimeters, and formidable defense mechanisms that deploy an arsenal of chemical weaponry. Successful mimicry of these adaptations may facilitate technological solutions to as wide a range of problems as they solve in the insects that originated them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas B H Schroeder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2300 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Jared Houghtaling
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2200 Bonisteel Boulevard, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Bodo D Wilts
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Michael Mayer
- Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
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13
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Michelutti KB, Soares ERP, Sguarizi-Antonio D, Piva RC, Súarez YR, Cardoso CAL, Antonialli-Junior WF. Influence of temperature on survival and cuticular chemical profile of social wasps. J Therm Biol 2017; 71:221-231. [PMID: 29301694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The cuticle of social insects is a barrier against desiccation and a channel for chemical communication, two characteristics fundamental to the success of this group. The compounds present in the cuticle interact dynamically in order to achieve a balance between these two functions. Thus, viscosity correlates with waterproofing, whereas fluidity correlates with effective communication. Temperature variation can cause the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) layer of the cuticle to change in order to maintain body homeostasis. Thus, in this study, we tested the hypothesis that wasps with different body sizes and nest types will differ in their tolerance to temperature variation and ability to respond by changing cuticular chemical composition. To test this hypothesis, workers of three species of social wasps with different body sizes and nests, both with or without envelope, were subjected to different temperatures under controlled conditions. Cuticular compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results show that tolerance to temperature variation is not directly related to either wasp size or nesting type. An increase in the percentage of linear alkanes and a decrease in the percentage of branched alkanes were correlated with increased temperature. Thus, instead of either body size or nest type, tolerance to temperature variation seems to be mediated by the changing chemical composition of the cuticle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - Eva Ramona Pereira Soares
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - Denise Sguarizi-Antonio
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - Raul Cremonezi Piva
- Centro de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade (CPBio), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - Yzel Rondon Súarez
- Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Centro Integrado de Análise e Monitoramento Ambiental (CInAM), Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso
- Centro de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade (CPBio), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
| | - William Fernando Antonialli-Junior
- Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamental (LABECO), Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul 79804-970, Brazil.
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14
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Climate changes and Hymenoptera venom allergy: are there some connections? Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2017; 17:344-349. [DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Kovac H, Käfer H, Petrocelli I, Stabentheiner A. Comparison of thermal traits of Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus, two European paper wasps with strongly differing distribution ranges. J Comp Physiol B 2016; 187:277-290. [PMID: 27744515 PMCID: PMC5253161 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-016-1041-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The two paper wasps, Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus, are related species with strongly differing distribution ranges. We investigated thermal tolerance traits (critical thermal limits and metabolic response to temperature) to gain knowledge about physiological adaptations to their local climate conditions and to get evidence for the reasons of P. dominula’s successful dispersion. Body and ambient temperature measurements at the nests revealed behavioural adaptations to microclimate. The species differed clearly in critical thermal minimum (P. dominula −1.4 °C, P. gallicus −0.4 °C), but not significantly in critical thermal maximum of activity (P. dominula 47.1 °C, P. gallicus 47.6 °C). The metabolic response did not reveal clear adaptations to climate conditions. At low and high temperatures, the metabolic rate of P. dominula was higher, and at intermediate temperatures, we determined higher values in P. gallicus. However, the species exhibited remarkably differing thermoregulatory behaviour at the nest. On average, P. gallicus tolerated a thoracic temperature up to ~41 °C, whereas P. dominula already tried at ~37 °C to keep the thorax below ambient temperature. We suggest this to be an adaptation to the higher mean ambient temperature we measured at the nest during a breeding season. Although we determined for P. dominula a 0.5 °C larger thermal tolerance range, we do not presume this parameter to be solely responsible for the successful distribution of P. dominula. Additional factors, such as the thermal tolerance of the queens could limit the overwintering success of P. gallicus in a harsher climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut Kovac
- Institut für Zoologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Helmut Käfer
- Institut für Zoologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Iacopo Petrocelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Anton Stabentheiner
- Institut für Zoologie, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
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