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Stabentheiner A, Mauerhofer T, Willfurth R, Kovac H, Stabentheiner E, Käfer H, Petrocelli I. The costs of overwintering in paper wasps ( Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus): the use of energy stores. J Comp Physiol B 2024; 194:131-144. [PMID: 38441658 PMCID: PMC11070328 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-024-01540-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Overwintering insects are facing energetic challenges because of food shortage, low temperature, and desiccation stress. Paper wasps of the genus Polistes overwinter as mated adults (gynes) in hibernacula protecting them from predation, snow, and rain but barely from low environmental temperature. In different climates, they face differing overwintering temperature regimes, and therefore they may differ in their energy use. We investigated how much of energy resources built up until autumn is used during diapause dormancy in natural hibernacula by measuring lipid, glycogen, and free carbohydrate content in autumn and early spring in Polistes dominula from temperate European (Austrian) and warm Mediterranean (Italian) climate and Polistes gallicus from Mediterranean climate. Winter energy consumption amounted to ~ 339 and ~ 310 J per wasp in the Austrian and Italian Polistes dominula populations. The smaller Italian Polistes gallicus consumed ~ 247 J. This amounts to 2.62, 2.35, and 1.79 J per day. Of this, the energy demand was mainly fuelled by lipids (84%, 93%, and 90%, respectively), but glycogen stores contributed also considerably (16%, 6%, and 9%). Free carbohydrates decreased only by 0.7%, 1%, and 0.8%. While fat stores seem still sufficient in spring, the wasps depleted most of their carbohydrates. The energy reserves of 396, 400, and 147 J per wasp remaining in spring in the three populations seem sufficient to fuel rest or simple brood care activities for a whole summer but restrict foraging flights to a few hours (~ 3.5-6 h). Results suggest that energy supply might become challenging in expected future climate scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Stabentheiner
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Teresa Mauerhofer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Regina Willfurth
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Helmut Kovac
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010, Graz, Austria.
| | - Edith Stabentheiner
- 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
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Cappa F, De Fazi L, Baracchi D, Cervo R. Adverse effects of the fungal biopesticide Beauveria bassiana on a predatory social wasp. Sci Total Environ 2024; 908:168202. [PMID: 37914122 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Biopesticides are considered eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic agrochemicals. However, their impact on non-target organisms is still poorly understood. Social wasps, in particular, are a largely neglected group when it comes to risk assessment of plant protection products, despite the relevant ecological and economic services provided by these insects. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of a common biopesticide, the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana, on the paper wasp Polistes dominula. We adopted a holistic approach in ecotoxicology by focusing not only on the detrimental effects on isolated individuals, but also on the whole colony. Both adult wasps belonging to different castes and immature larvae were topically exposed to a field-realistic concentration of fungal spores from the commercial strain of B. bassiana ATCC 74040 to assess the impact of the biopesticide on their survival, behavior and physiology. Our results showed that the fungus causes a number of adverse effects on P. dominula, that include increased mortality, altered locomotion and feeding rate, selective ejection of exposed larvae from nests, reduced oviposition rate and ovary development in foundresses, and colony failure. Our findings provide new insights on the often-neglected sublethal effects of pollutants that can jeopardize not only individual beneficial insects, but also the delicate social balance of their colonies and their valuable ecosystem services, highlighting that the natural origin of plant-protection products does not always guarantee environmental safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Cappa
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Livia De Fazi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - David Baracchi
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Rita Cervo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
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Vega-Castro A, Castro L, Carballada F, Alfaya T, Marquès L, Ruíz-León B. Hymenoptera Allergy Diagnosis through Their Presence on Human Food. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:680. [PMID: 38133184 PMCID: PMC10748280 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15120680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Venom immunotherapy (VIT) protects up to 98% of treated Hymenoptera allergy patients from reactions with new stings. A correct diagnosis with the identification of the venom causing the allergic reaction is essential to implementing it. The knowledge of the Hymenoptera foraging habits when the sting takes place in a food environment would allow the culprit insect to be known. Images of Hymenoptera occurring in environments where there was human food were recorded in Spain, including the date of the image, the place description and its geolocation. The insects' genus and species were identified by an entomologist. Results: One hundred and fifty-five images depicting 71 insects were analyzed. The identified insects were Vespula (56), Vespa (7), Polistes (4), Cerceris (2), Bombus (1) and Apis (1). Most (97.1%) of the images were obtained in summer and early autumn, outdoors in terraces (64%). Meat was the food associated with 47.9% of the images. In protein-rich foods, Vespula was found in 89%. Conclusions: Vespula was the main Hymenoptera associated with food environments in our country (78.87%), and in most of the cases (71%), the food involved is a source of protein, such as meat or seafood. In that environment, the probability that the insect is a Vespula would be 89%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arantza Vega-Castro
- Allergy Service, University Hospital of Guadalajara, 19002 Guadalajara, Spain
- IDISCAM (Instituto de Investigación de Castilla la Mancha), 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Francisco Carballada
- Allergy Service, HULA (Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti), 27003 Lugo, Spain;
| | - Teresa Alfaya
- Allergy Service, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Lluís Marquès
- Allergy Service, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova, 25198 Lleida, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Berta Ruíz-León
- Allergy Service, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain;
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
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Giraldo-Tugores M, Vaquero-Rey A, Santacruz-Santos M, Rodríguez-Martín E, De Andrés A, Ballester-Gonzalez R, Barra-Castro A, Fernández-Lozano C, Martinez-Botas J, Antolín-Amérigo D. Application of In Vitro Tests to Establish an Accurate Diagnosis of Double Sensitization to Vespula and Polistes Species. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2023; 33:414-416. [PMID: 37843387 DOI: 10.18176/jiaci.0890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M Giraldo-Tugores
- Allergology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Vaquero-Rey
- Allergology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Biochemistry-Research Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Santacruz-Santos
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Biochemistry-Research Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Rodríguez-Martín
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - A De Andrés
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - R Ballester-Gonzalez
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Immunology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Barra-Castro
- Allergology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Fernández-Lozano
- Allergology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Biochemistry-Research Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Martinez-Botas
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
- Biochemistry-Research Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red CIBEROBN, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Antolín-Amérigo
- Allergology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
- Instituto Investigación Sanitaria IRYCS, Madrid, Spain
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Gay DR, Judd TM. Comparison of Protein and Carbohydrate Consumption and Processing in Emerging Workers, Gynes and Males of the Wasp Polistes metricus. Insects 2023; 14:617. [PMID: 37504623 PMCID: PMC10380711 DOI: 10.3390/insects14070617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that paper wasps' (Polistes') fate as workers or reproductive females (gynes) is affected by cues that exist at the larval stage and during eclosion. The nutritional requirements for workers and gynes are different early in their adult lives. Males are short-lived and have different nutritional needs than females. To determine the relative importance of larval and adult cues, we reared Polistes metricus individuals from prepupae to adults isolated from known environmental cues shown to affect caste differentiation. Individuals were given access to two foods with different ratios of protein and carbohydrates. Levels of protein, amino acids, carbohydrates and lipids were measured after the feeding trials. If larval experience drove feeding behavior in adults, we expected to see differences in protein and carbohydrate intake as well as differences in nutrient levels. Females showed no differences in feeding or nutrient levels. Males had lower levels of protein and amino acids than females but had similar feeding results to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Gay
- Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA
| | - Timothy M Judd
- Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA
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Nacko S, Hall MA, Henderson G. Alternative Nesting Strategies of Polistine Wasps in a Subtropical Locale. Insects 2022; 13:53. [PMID: 35055896 DOI: 10.3390/insects13010053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic studies suggest that historically all paper wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in North America have tropical origins, but some species have adapted to survive temperate conditions. Subtropical climates, which are intermediate between temperate and tropical, allow a unique opportunity to study ancestral traits which can be retained or lost within populations, and ultimately elucidate the process of social wasp evolution. We investigated the phenology of paper wasps at study sites in subtropical Baton Rouge, USA, through nest searching and monitoring of nest parameters throughout the warm season (March-October). Across the year, two periods of nest initiation occurred: from March-May (early season nests, i.e., before the summer solstice), and from July-September (late season nests, after the solstice). We observed 240 Polistes nests from six species, of which 50.8% were initiated in early season and 49.2% in late season. In contrast, Mischocyttarus mexicanus rarely built late season nests and had longer early season colony duration than Polistes bellicosus and P. dorsalis, which built more nests in the late season than early. Across all species, late season nests had significantly shorter colony duration (~87.6 days) than early season nests (~166 days), and only P. bellicosus had fewer adults at peak population in late season nests than in early season nests. Results indicate both a bivoltine colony cycle in Polistes of subtropical climates, as well as differences in nesting strategies between genera.
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Daney de Marcillac W, Nguyen LTP, Aracheloff C, Berthier S, Schöllhorn B. Bright green fluorescence of Asian paper wasp nests. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210418. [PMID: 34428946 PMCID: PMC8385335 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
An exceptionally bright fluorescent biomatter was discovered when exploring, with UV-A light, the nests of several oriental paper wasp species of the genus Polistes, a genus of diurnal social insects. Fluorescence spectra of the cocoon cap membranes revealed narrow emission bands in the green range of the visible spectrum. Large Stokes shifts of around 160 nm and high fluorescence quantum yields of up to 35% were measured. Transmission spectra were recorded in order to estimate the contribution of the fluorescence to the visible light transmitted through the cocoon cap membrane. The nest fluorescence of the Vietnamese wasps was compared with a European and an American species. Potential biological functions of these interesting fluorescence properties of the studied biomaterial are discussed. The discovery of this striking example of a fluorescent terrestrial biomaterial may contribute to the debate on adaptive biological functions of natural fluorescence and falls in line with the growing interest in biodiversity and bio-inspiration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Camille Aracheloff
- Institut des Nanoscience de Paris, UMR 7588 CNRS - Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Serge Berthier
- Institut des Nanoscience de Paris, UMR 7588 CNRS - Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Bernd Schöllhorn
- Université de Paris - Laboratoire d'Electrochimie Moléculaire, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France
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Bilò MB, Martini M, Bonadonna P, Cinti B, Da Re M, Gabrielli O, Olivieri F, Salgarolo V, Zanoni G, Villalta D. Prevalence of Pol d 1 Sensitization in Polistes dominula Allergy and Its Diagnostic Role in Vespid Double-Positivity. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2021:S2213-2198(21)00660-7. [PMID: 34146747 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stings by Polistes species frequently cause allergic reactions. However, standard allergy diagnostics are often unable to differentiate between primary sensitization and cross-reactivity in case of Vespula/Polistes double-sensitization because antigen 5 is the only Polistes venom molecule currently available in diagnostics (Pol d 5). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the frequency of phospholipase A1 in Polistes venom allergy (Pol d 1) and its diagnostic role in vespid allergy. METHODS We performed component-resolved diagnostics in patients with vespid allergic reactions who were positive to Polistes venom. A prevalence analysis was performed and the diagnostic accuracy of Pol d 1 was evaluated to detect primary Polistes sensitization in double-sensitized patients. RESULTS Blood samples were collected from 132 patients. Pol d 1 was present in 97% to 100% of 128 Polistes-positive patients. It was frequently involved in case of positivity to a single Polistes molecule (48% in double- and 80% in mono-sensitized patients). Furthermore, Pol d 1 was positive in 95% of Pol d 5-negative subjects. The diagnostic accuracy of Pol d 1 was good (folded type: area under the curve = 87%; 82% sensitivity and 77% specificity at the best cutoff of 5.773), and even better when used combined with the whole extract ratio (area under the curve = 99%; 91% sensitivity and 100% specificity). CONCLUSIONS The study shows that Pol d 1 is the most frequent Polistes allergen in Italian patients. It can distinguish Polistes primary sensitizations with good diagnostic accuracy, which supports its use in clinical practice.
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Seppä P, Bonelli M, Dupont S, Hakala SM, Bagnères AG, Lorenzi MC. Strong Gene Flow Undermines Local Adaptations in a Host Parasite System. Insects 2020; 11:insects11090585. [PMID: 32882832 PMCID: PMC7564341 DOI: 10.3390/insects11090585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The co-evolution of hosts and parasites depends on their ability to adapt to each other’s defense and counter-defense mechanisms. The strength of selection on those mechanisms may vary among populations, resulting in a geographical mosaic of co-evolution. The boreo-montane paper wasp Polistes biglumis and its parasite Polistes atrimandibularis exemplify this type of co-evolutionary system. Here, we used genetic markers to examine the genetic population structures of these wasps in the western Alps. We found that both host and parasite populations displayed similar levels of genetic variation. In the host species, populations located near to each other were genetically similar; in both the host and the parasite species populations farther apart were significantly different. Thus, apparent dispersal barriers (i.e., high mountains) did not seem to restrict gene flow across populations as expected. Furthermore, there were no major differences in gene flow between the two species, perhaps because P. atrimandibularis parasitizes both alpine and lowland host species and annually migrates between alpine and lowland populations. The presence of strong gene flow in a system where local populations experience variable levels of selection pressure challenges the classical hypothesis that restricted gene flow is required for local adaptations to evolve. Abstract The co-evolutionary pathways followed by hosts and parasites strongly depend on the adaptive potential of antagonists and its underlying genetic architecture. Geographically structured populations of interacting species often experience local differences in the strength of reciprocal selection pressures, which can result in a geographic mosaic of co-evolution. One example of such a system is the boreo-montane social wasp Polistes biglumis and its social parasite Polistes atrimandibularis, which have evolved local defense and counter-defense mechanisms to match their antagonist. In this work, we study spatial genetic structure of P. biglumis and P. atrimandibularis populations at local and regional scales in the Alps, by using nuclear markers (DNA microsatellites, AFLP) and mitochondrial sequences. Both the host and the parasite populations harbored similar amounts of genetic variation. Host populations were not genetically structured at the local scale, but geographic regions were significantly differentiated from each other in both the host and the parasite in all markers. The net dispersal inferred from genetic differentiation was similar in the host and the parasite, which may be due to the annual migration pattern of the parasites between alpine and lowland populations. Thus, the apparent dispersal barriers (i.e., high mountains) do not restrict gene flow as expected and there are no important gene flow differences between the species, which contradict the hypothesis that restricted gene flow is required for local adaptations to evolve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perttu Seppä
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Mariaelena Bonelli
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy; (M.B.); (M.C.L.)
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université de Tours, Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, 37200 Tours, France; (S.D.); (A.-G.B.)
| | - Simon Dupont
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université de Tours, Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, 37200 Tours, France; (S.D.); (A.-G.B.)
| | - Sanja Maria Hakala
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Anne-Geneviève Bagnères
- Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l’Insecte, UMR 7261, CNRS—Université de Tours, Avenue Monge, Parc Grandmont, 37200 Tours, France; (S.D.); (A.-G.B.)
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS UMR5175, Université Montpellier, Université Paul Valery Montpellier 3, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Maria Cristina Lorenzi
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123 Torino, Italy; (M.B.); (M.C.L.)
- Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology (LEEC), University of Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430 Villetaneuse, France
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Cappa F, Cini A, Signorotti L, Cervo R. Rethinking recognition: social context in adult life rather than early experience shapes recognition in a social wasp. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190468. [PMID: 32420841 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Social recognition represents the foundation of social living. To what extent social recognition is hard-wired by early-life experience or flexible and influenced by social context of later life stages is a crucial question in animal behaviour studies. Social insects have represented classic models to investigate the subject, and the acknowledged idea is that relevant information to create the referent template for nest-mate recognition (NMR) is usually acquired during an early sensitive period in adult life. Experimental evidence, however, highlighted that other processes may also be at work in creating the template and that such a template may be updated during adult life according to social requirements. However, currently, we lack an ad hoc experiment testing the alternative hypotheses at the basis of NMR ontogeny in social insects. Thus, to investigate the mechanisms underlying the ontogeny of NMR in Polistes wasps, a model genus in recognition studies, and their different role in determining recognition abilities, we subjected Polistes dominula workers to different olfactory experiences in different phases of their life before inserting them into the social environment of a novel colony and testing them in recognition bioassays. Our results show that workers develop their NMR abilities based on their social context rather than through pre-imaginal and early learning or self-referencing. Our study demonstrates that the social context represents the major component shaping recognition abilities in a social wasp, therefore shedding new light on the ontogeny of recognition in paper wasps and prompting the reader to rethink about the traditional knowledge at the basis of the recognition in social insects. This article is part of the theme issue 'Signal detection theory in recognition systems: from evolving models to experimental tests'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Cappa
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.,Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lisa Signorotti
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
| | - Rita Cervo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italy
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Kovac H, Käfer H, Stabentheiner A. The Thermoregulatory Behavior of Nectar Foraging Polistine Wasps ( Polistes dominula and Polistes gallicus) in Different Climate Conditions. Insects 2019; 10:E187. [PMID: 31252677 DOI: 10.3390/insects10070187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Polistine wasps collect nectar for their energetic demand and for the provision of the brood. They are mainly ectothermic during different behavioral tasks. We investigated the body temperature of two species living in differing habitats and climate regions, in order to reveal the environmental influence on their thermoregulatory behavior. The species were Polistes dominula in the temperate climate of Central Europe, and Polistes gallicus in the warm Mediterranean climate of Southern Europe. The wasp’s body temperature was measured during foraging on lovage (Levisticum officinale) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) by infrared thermography in the entire ambient temperature range they are usually exposed to (Ta ~ 20–40 °C). The temperature of all body parts increased nearly linearly with ambient temperature, with the thorax as the warmest part. To achieve optimal foraging temperatures, they preferably use solar radiation. An “operative temperature model” enabled the evaluation of the endothermic effort. Polistes dominula foraging on lovage exhibited no endothermic activity. However, while foraging on fennel they had a weak and almost constant endothermic performance of about 1 °C. Polistes gallicus, by contrast, exhibited mostly no or only minor endothermy during foraging. Both wasps avoid a high energetic effort and this way reduce their foraging costs.
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Couchoux C, Field J. Parental manipulation of offspring size in social groups: a test using paper wasps. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2019; 73:36. [PMID: 30880867 PMCID: PMC6394940 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-019-2646-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Maternal effects should be especially likely when mothers actively provision offspring with resources that influence offspring phenotype. In cooperatively breeding and eusocial taxa, there is potential for parents to strategically manipulate offspring phenotype in their own interests. Social insect queens are nearly always larger than their worker offspring, and queens could benefit by producing small daughter workers in several ways. If queens use aggression to dominate or coerce workers, a queen producing small workers might minimize potential conflict or competition from her offspring. In addition, because of the trade-off between the number of workers she is able to produce and their individual size, a queen may produce small workers to optimize colony work effort. In this study, we investigate why queens of the primitively eusocial paper wasp Polistes gallicus limit the size of their workers. We created queen–worker size mismatches by cross-fostering queens between nests. We then tested whether the queen–worker size difference affects worker foraging and reproductive effort, or the amount of aggression in the group. Some of our results were consistent with the idea that queens limit worker size strategically: small workers were no less successful foragers, so that producing a larger number of smaller workers may overall increase queen fitness. We found that queens were less likely to attack large workers, perhaps because attempting to coerce large workers is riskier. However, larger workers did not forage less, did not invest more in ovarian development, and were not more aggressive themselves. There was therefore little evidence overall that queens limit conflict by producing smaller workers. Significance statement In social animals, parents might manipulate phenotypic traits of their offspring in their own interests. In paper wasps (Polistes), the first offspring produced are smaller than the queen and become workers: instead of founding their own nests, they stay and help their mother to rear new queens and males. We investigated whether P. gallicus queens could benefit by producing small daughter workers by using cross-fostering to create size mismatches between queens and their offspring. We then recorded foraging activity, reproductive effort, and aggression on nests. Queens were less likely to attack larger workers, but overall, there was limited evidence of size-based queen–worker conflict. However, because small workers were no less successful foragers, producing a larger number of smaller workers may optimize colony work effort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Couchoux
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Jeremy Field
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn campus, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
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Miller SE, Legan AW, Flores ZA, Ng HY, Sheehan MJ. Strong, but incomplete, mate choice discrimination between two closely related species of paper wasp. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018; 126:614-622. [PMID: 30853716 DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Paper wasps (genus Polistes) are one of the most species-rich genera of social insect. Prior studies have found that male coloration, male colour pattern, territory choice and female caste are potential drivers of intraspecific mate choice in paper wasps. However, there has been no formal assessment of interspecific mate choice in this group; therefore, the mechanism driving diversification in paper wasps remains an open question. In this study, we measured interspecific and intraspecific mating behaviour between two closely related species of paper wasps, Polistes fuscatus and Polistes metricus. These two species have ample opportunity to interbreed because P. fuscatus and P. metricus forage, nest and mate in the same habitats. We tested the strength of reproductive isolation between these species using no-choice and choice mating trials. Our results show strong, symmetric, prezygotic isolation between P. fuscatus and P. metricus. Males discriminated between conspecifics and heterospecifics but attempted to mate with females of the other species in ~10% of heterospecific mating trials. Female wasps were more discriminating than males and probably evaluated species identity and male quality through visual or olfactory cues. We additionally report sexual dimorphism in P. metricus body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Miller
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Andrew W Legan
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Zoe A Flores
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Hong Yu Ng
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Sheehan
- Cornell University Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Ithaca, NY, USA
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14
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Miller SE, Bluher SE, Bell E, Cini A, Silva RCD, de Souza AR, Gandia KM, Jandt J, Loope K, Prato A, Pruitt JN, Rankin D, Rankin E, Southon RJ, Uy FMK, Weiner S, Wright CM, Downing H, Gadagkar R, Cristina Lorenzi M, Rusina L, Sumner S, Tibbetts EA, Toth A, Sheehan MJ. WASPnest: a worldwide assessment of social Polistine nesting behavior. Ecology 2018; 99:2405. [PMID: 29999519 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cooperative breeding decreases the direct reproductive output of subordinate individuals, but cooperation can be evolutionarily favored when there are challenges or constraints to breeding independently. Environmental factors, including temperature, precipitation, latitude, high seasonality, and environmental harshness have been hypothesized to correlate with the presence of cooperative breeding. However, to test the relationship between cooperation and ecological constraints requires comparative data on the frequency and variation of cooperative breeding across differing environments, ideally replicated across multiple species. Paper wasps are primitively social species, forming colonies composed of reproductively active dominants and foraging subordinates. Adult female wasps, referred to as foundresses, initiate new colonies. Nests can be formed by a single solitary foundress (noncooperative) or by multiple foundress associations (cooperative). Cooperative behavior varies within and among species, making paper wasps species well suited to disentangling ecological correlates of variation in cooperative behavior. This data set reports the frequency and extent of cooperative nest founding for 87 paper wasp species. Data were assembled from more than 170 published sources, previously unpublished field observations, and photographs contributed by citizen scientists to online natural history repositories. The data set includes 25,872 nest observations and reports the cooperative behavioral decisions for 45,297 foundresses. Species names were updated to reflect modern taxonomic revisions. The type of substrate on which the nest was built is also included, when available. A smaller population-level version of this data set found that the presence or absence of cooperative nesting in paper wasps was correlated with temperature stability and environmental harshness, but these variables did not predict the extent of cooperation within species. This expanded data set contains details about individual nests and further increases the power to address the relationship between the environment and the presence and extent of cooperative breeding. Beyond the ecological drivers of cooperation, these high-resolution data will be useful for future studies examining the evolutionary consequences of variation in social behavior. This data set may be used for research or educational purposes provided that this data paper is cited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Miller
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Sarah E Bluher
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Emily Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Alessandro Cini
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Rafael Carvalho da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - André Rodrigues de Souza
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Kristine M Gandia
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA
| | - Jennifer Jandt
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Kevin Loope
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92507, USA
| | - Amanda Prato
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, 14040-901, Brazil
| | - Jonathan N Pruitt
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S4L8, Canada
| | - David Rankin
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92507, USA
| | - Erin Rankin
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92507, USA
| | - Robin J Southon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TH, UK
| | - Floria M K Uy
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33146, USA
| | - Susan Weiner
- Department of Biology, Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois, 60605, USA
| | - Colin M Wright
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, 93106, USA
| | - Holly Downing
- Black Hills State University, Spearfish, South Dakota, 57799, USA
| | - Raghavendra Gadagkar
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560012, India
| | - M Cristina Lorenzi
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, Université Paris 13, Villetaneuse, 93430, France.,Department Life Science and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Verdi, Torino, 8-10124, Italy
| | | | - Seirian Sumner
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environmental Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Elizabeth A Tibbetts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, USA
| | - Amy Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 50011, USA
| | - Michael J Sheehan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
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Guédot C, Hietala-Henschell K, Lois AN. Species Composition, Abundance and Seasonal Phenology of Social Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Wisconsin Vineyards. Insects 2018; 9:insects9020057. [PMID: 29857557 PMCID: PMC6023315 DOI: 10.3390/insects9020057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Social wasps can be serious pests in fruit growing plantings and are becoming increasingly problematic for grape growers. In this study, we conducted two experiments to assess the species composition and seasonal phenology of social wasps in Wisconsin vineyards in 2015 and 2017. In 2015, three attractants were used: (1) wine; (2) heptyl butyrate (HB); and (3) acetic acid and isobutanol (AAIB) and in 2017, two attractants were used: HB and AAIB. In both years, the same eight species were trapped from the genera Vespula, Dolichovespula, and Polistes. The predominant wasp species trapped were Vespula maculifrons, Vespula vidua, Vespula flavopilosa, and Vespula germanica in 2015 and V. maculifrons, V. flavopilosa, V. germanica, and Dolichovespula maculata in 2017, in order of total abundance. The populations of V. vidua decreased in 2017 compared to 2015, indicating large inter-annual variation. In both years, AAIB lures trapped significantly more V. flavopilosa, V. maculifrons, and V. germanica, the three most prevalent species during grape harvest, than HB, whereas HB lures trapped more V. vidua than AAIB. Wine was generally attractive to all species in 2015. This study identifies for the first time the wasp species present in Wisconsin commercial vineyards using chemical attractants. This knowledge, along with the seasonal phenology of these pest species, will help facilitate the development of management strategies for social wasps in commercial vineyards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Guédot
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Katie Hietala-Henschell
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
| | - Abby N Lois
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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16
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Antolín-Amérigo D, Ruiz-León B, Boni E, Alfaya-Arias T, Álvarez-Mon M, Barbarroja-Escudero J, González-de-Olano D, Moreno-Aguilar C, Rodríguez-Rodríguez M, Sánchez-González MJ, Sánchez-Morillas L, Vega-Castro A. Component-resolved diagnosis in hymenoptera allergy. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2018; 46:253-262. [PMID: 28739022 DOI: 10.1016/j.aller.2017.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Component-resolved diagnosis based on the use of well-defined, properly characterised and purified natural and recombinant allergens constitutes a new approach in the diagnosis of venom allergy. Prospective readers may benefit from an up-to-date review on the allergens. The best characterised venom is that of Apis mellifera, whose main allergens are phospholipase A2 (Api m1), hyaluronidase (Api m2) and melittin (Api m4). Additionally, in recent years, new allergens of Vespula vulgaris have been identified and include phospholipase A1 (Ves v1), hyaluronidase (Ves v2) and antigen 5 (Ves v5). Polistes species are becoming an increasing cause of allergy in Europe, although only few allergens have been identified in this venom. In this review, we evaluate the current knowledge about molecular diagnosis in hymenoptera venom allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Antolín-Amérigo
- Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.
| | - B Ruiz-León
- Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - E Boni
- S.S. Allergologia, ASL Alessandria, Hospital Santo Spirito, Casale Monferrato (AL), Italy
| | - T Alfaya-Arias
- Servicio de Alergología, Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - M Álvarez-Mon
- Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Barbarroja-Escudero
- Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - D González-de-Olano
- Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Moreno-Aguilar
- Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Córdoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - M Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - M J Sánchez-González
- Servicio de Enfermedades del Sistema Inmune-Alergia, Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - A Vega-Castro
- Servicio de Alergología, Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Spain
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17
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Berens AJ, Tibbetts EA, Toth AL. Cognitive specialization for learning faces is associated with shifts in the brain transcriptome of a social wasp. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 220:2149-2153. [PMID: 28615487 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.155200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The specialized ability to learn and recall individuals based on distinct facial features is known in only a few, large-brained social taxa. Social paper wasps in the genus Polistes are the only insects known to possess this form of cognitive specialization. We analyzed genome-wide brain gene expression during facial and pattern training for two species of paper wasps (P. fuscatus, which has face recognition, and P. metricus, which does not) using RNA sequencing. We identified 237 transcripts associated with face specialization in P. fuscatus, including some transcripts involved in neuronal signaling (serotonin receptor and tachykinin). Polistes metricus that learned faces (without specialized learning) and P. fuscatus in social interactions with familiar partners (from a previous study) showed distinct sets of brain differentially expressed transcripts. These data suggest face specialization in P. fuscatus is related to shifts in the brain transcriptome associated with genes distinct from those related to general visual learning and social interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali J Berens
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Tibbetts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Amy L Toth
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.,Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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18
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Santamaria J. Deformed Wing virus absence/presence data across three genera on two Hawaiian Islands. Data Brief 2018. [PMID: 29541676 PMCID: PMC5847618 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The data presented in this article relates to the research article, "Evidence of Varroa-mediated Deformed Wing virus spillover in Hawaii" (Santamaria et al., 2017) [3]. The article presents data collected throughout August 2014 to November 2015, on the two Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Maui. Apis and non-Apis specimens - a total of four species - were collected and tested for Deformed Wing virus (DWV) absence or presence, only. Specific island locations are noted. This data is made publicly available to be analyzed or used in future relevant research.
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Nacko S, Henderson G. A Preliminary Investigation of the Interactions between the Brood Parasite Chalcoela iphitalis and Its Polistine Wasp Hosts. Insects 2017; 8:E89. [PMID: 28837069 DOI: 10.3390/insects8030089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The life history of Chalcoela iphitalis—a common brood parasite of social wasps—has been described in previous literature, but critical information regarding oviposition behavior and possible differential host parasitism remain cryptic. Here we report on infestation levels of this moth in field populations of paper wasps in Polistes and Mischocyttarus, as well as the oviposition behavior of the moths under a laboratory setting. We found evidence for differential parasitism between paper wasp genera in the field, with almost 50% nest infestation in P. bellicosus and no occurrences of moth infestation in M. mexicanus. Laboratory results revealed that oviposition occurs only at night and is stimulated by contact with the wasp nest or adult wasps. In this setting, eggs were laid largely on the substrate above or adjacent to the host nest, but not on the nest itself.
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20
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Caniglia G. "How complex and even perverse the real world can be": W.D. Hamilton's early work on social wasps (1964-1968). Stud Hist Philos Biol Biomed Sci 2017; 64:41-52. [PMID: 28672203 DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsc.2017.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/08/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
William D. Hamilton's name is often connected to important theoretical accomplishments, from the theory of inclusive fitness and kin selection to the so-called Hamilton's rule and the haplodiploidy hypothesis. This article asks: How did Hamilton attempt to test his theory and hypothesis against the complexity of the biological world? The article reconstructs Hamilton's empirical work with social wasps between 1963 and 1968, the years before and after the publication of the groundbreaking "The Genetical Evolution of Social Behavior" in 1964. It points out the centrality of Hamilton's work on wasps and shows how the British scientist attempted to test theories and hypotheses with naturalistic, developmental, and physiological observations as well as, at times, with experimental manipulations. The article offers a new perspective on the history of the scientific understanding of the evolution of social behavior. In contrast to existing narratives, this perspective emphasizes the importance of empirical work-e.g. natural history, physiology, comparative anatomy-which is often obscured by a nearly exclusive focus on theoretical developments in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Caniglia
- Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University, PO Box 873301, Tempe, AZ 85287-3301, United States.
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21
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Field J, Leadbeater E. Cooperation between non-relatives in a primitively eusocial paper wasp, Polistes dominula. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:20150093. [PMID: 26729932 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In cooperatively breeding vertebrates, the existence of individuals that help to raise the offspring of non-relatives is well established, but unrelated helpers are less well known in the social insects. Eusocial insect groups overwhelmingly consist of close relatives, so populations where unrelated helpers are common are intriguing. Here, we focus on Polistes dominula-the best-studied primitively eusocial wasp, and a species in which nesting with non-relatives is not only present but frequent. We address two major questions: why individuals should choose to nest with non-relatives, and why such individuals participate in the costly rearing of unrelated offspring. Polistes dominula foundresses produce more offspring of their own as subordinates than when they nest independently, providing a potential explanation for co-founding by non-relatives. There is some evidence that unrelated subordinates tailor their behaviour towards direct fitness, while the role of recognition errors in generating unrelated co-foundresses is less clear. Remarkably, the remote but potentially highly rewarding chance of inheriting the dominant position appears to strongly influence behaviour, suggesting that primitively eusocial insects may have much more in common with their social vertebrate counterparts than has commonly been thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Field
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, John Maynard Smith Building, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Ellouise Leadbeater
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK
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22
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Berens AJ, Tibbetts EA, Toth AL. Candidate genes for individual recognition in Polistes fuscatus paper wasps. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2015; 202:115-29. [PMID: 26660069 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-015-1057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Few animals are known to individually recognize conspecifics, i.e. learn and recall unique individuals during subsequent encounters, and nearly all are social vertebrates. Remarkably, the social paper wasp Polistes fuscatus has recently been discovered to possess this ability, which is useful for remembering identities during competitive social interactions. We analyzed brain gene expression in staged encounters between pairs of individuals to explore potential mechanisms underlying wasps' ability to recall familiar individuals using real-time qRT-PCR. We identified four candidate genes (IP3K, IP3R, Nckx30C and Su(var)2-10) that were down-regulated in the presence of familiar individuals compared to single wasps and pairs of wasps meeting for the first time. These candidate genes are related to calcium signaling, therefore, we treated wasps with lithium chloride, a pharmacological agent that inhibits calcium signaling in neurons. This treatment decreased aggression in paper wasps, but did not affect expression of genes related to calcium signaling. The results suggest calcium signaling differences may be related to individual memory recall in wasps, and we present four promising candidate genes for future study. These data suggest genes associated with dominance behavior may be co-opted for individual recognition, but further work is needed to establish a causal association with the behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Berens
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| | - E A Tibbetts
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - A L Toth
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
- Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
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23
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Cini A, Patalano S, Segonds-Pichon A, Busby GBJ, Cervo R, Sumner S. Social parasitism and the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution. Front Genet 2015; 6:32. [PMID: 25741361 PMCID: PMC4332356 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Contrasting phenotypes arise from similar genomes through a combination of losses, gains, co-option and modifications of inherited genomic material. Understanding the molecular basis of this phenotypic diversity is a fundamental challenge in modern evolutionary biology. Comparisons of the genes and their expression patterns underlying traits in closely related species offer an unrivaled opportunity to evaluate the extent to which genomic material is reorganized to produce novel traits. Advances in molecular methods now allow us to dissect the molecular machinery underlying phenotypic diversity in almost any organism, from single-celled entities to the most complex vertebrates. Here we discuss how comparisons of social parasites and their free-living hosts may provide unique insights into the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution. Social parasites evolve from a eusocial ancestor and are specialized to exploit the socially acquired resources of their closely-related eusocial host. Molecular comparisons of such species pairs can reveal how genomic material is re-organized in the loss of ancestral traits (i.e., of free-living traits in the parasites) and the gain of new ones (i.e., specialist traits required for a parasitic lifestyle). We define hypotheses on the molecular basis of phenotypes in the evolution of social parasitism and discuss their wider application in our understanding of the molecular basis of phenotypic diversity within the theoretical framework of phenotypic plasticity and shifting reaction norms. Currently there are no data available to test these hypotheses, and so we also provide some proof of concept data using the paper wasp social parasite/host system (Polistes sulcifer-Polistes dominula). This conceptual framework and first empirical data provide a spring-board for directing future genomic analyses on exploiting social parasites as a route to understanding the evolution of phenotypic specialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di FirenzeFirenze, Italy
| | - Solenn Patalano
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonLondon, UK
- The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus – CambridgeCambridge, UK
| | | | - George B. J. Busby
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonLondon, UK
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human GeneticsOxford, UK
| | - Rita Cervo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di FirenzeFirenze, Italy
| | - Seirian Sumner
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of LondonLondon, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of BristolBristol, UK
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24
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Abstract
We estimate the extent of ecological impacts of the invasive Asian paper wasp across different landscapes in New Zealand. We used: (i) a baseline distribution layer (modelled via MaxEnt); (ii) Asian paper wasp nest density (from >460 field plots, related to their preferences for specific land cover categories); and (iii) and their foraging intensity (rates of foraging success, and the time available to forage on a seasonal basis). Using geographic information systems this information is combined and modelled across different landscapes in New Zealand in a step-wise selection process. The highest densities of Asian paper wasps were in herbaceous saline vegetation, followed closely by built-up areas, and then scrub and shrubland. Nest densities of 34 per ha, and occupancy rates of 0.27 were recorded for herbaceous saline vegetation habitats. However, the extent of impacts of the Asian paper wasp remains relatively restricted because of narrow climate tolerances and spatial restriction of preferred habitats. A step-wise process based on geographic information systems and species distribution models, in combination with factors such as distribution, density, and predation, create a useful tool that allows the extent of impacts of invasive species to be assessed across large spatial scales. These models will be useful for conservation managers as they provide easy visual interpretation of results, and can help prioritise where direct conservation action or control of the invader are required.
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25
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Kelstrup HC, Hartfelder K, Nascimento FS, Riddiford LM. Reproductive status, endocrine physiology and chemical signaling in the Neotropical, swarm-founding eusocial wasp Polybia micans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:2399-410. [PMID: 24744417 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.096750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In the evolution of caste-based societies in Hymenoptera, the classical insect hormones juvenile hormone (JH) and ecdysteroids were co-opted into new functions. Social wasps, which show all levels of sociality and lifestyles, are an ideal group in which to study such functional changes. Virtually all studies on the physiological mechanisms underlying reproductive division of labor and caste functions in wasps have been done on independent-founding paper wasps, and the majority of these studies have focused on species specially adapted for overwintering. The relatively little-studied tropical swarm-founding wasps of the Epiponini (Vespidae) are a diverse group of permanently social wasps, with some species maintaining caste flexibility well into the adult phase. We investigated the behavior, reproductive status, JH and ecdysteroid titers in hemolymph, ecdysteroid content of the ovary and cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles in the caste-monomorphic, epiponine wasp Polybia micans Ducke. We found that the JH titer was not elevated in competing queens from established multiple-queen nests, but increased in lone queens that lack direct competition. In queenless colonies, JH titer rose transiently in young potential reproductives upon challenge by nestmates, suggesting that JH may prime the ovaries for further development. Ovarian ecdysteroids were very low in workers but higher and correlated with the number of vitellogenic oocytes in the queens. Hemolymph ecdysteroid levels were low and variable in both workers and queens. Profiles of P. micans CHCs reflected caste, age and reproductive status, but were not tightly linked to either hormone. These findings show a significant divergence in hormone function in swarm-founding wasps compared with independently founding ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans C Kelstrup
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Klaus Hartfelder
- Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14049-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Fabio S Nascimento
- Departamento de Biologia da Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-900 SP, Brazil
| | - Lynn M Riddiford
- Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
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26
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Giannoni-Guzmán MA, Avalos A, Marrero Perez J, Otero Loperena EJ, Kayım M, Medina JA, Massey SE, Kence M, Kence A, Giray T, Agosto-Rivera JL. Measuring individual locomotor rhythms in honey bees, paper wasps and other similar-sized insects. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 217:1307-15. [PMID: 24436380 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.096180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms in social insects are highly plastic and are modulated by multiple factors. In addition, complex behaviors such as sun-compass orientation and time learning are clearly regulated by the circadian system in these organisms. Despite these unique features of social insect clocks, the mechanisms as well as the functional and evolutionary relevance of these traits remain largely unknown. Here we show a modification of the Drosophila activity monitoring (DAM) system that allowed us to measure locomotor rhythms of the honey bee, Apis mellifera (three variants; gAHB, carnica and caucasica), and two paper wasps (Polistes crinitus and Mischocyttarus phthisicus). A side-by-side comparison of the endogenous period under constant darkness (free-running period) led us to the realization that these social insects exhibit significant deviations from the Earth's 24 h rotational period as well as a large degree of inter-individual variation compared with Drosophila. Experiments at different temperatures, using honey bees as a model, revealed that testing the endogenous rhythm at 35°C, which is the hive's core temperature, results in average periods closer to 24 h compared with 25°C (23.8 h at 35°C versus 22.7 h at 25°C). This finding suggests that the degree of tuning of circadian temperature compensation varies among different organisms. We expect that the commercial availability, cost-effectiveness and integrated nature of this monitoring system will facilitate the growth of the circadian field in these social insects and catalyze our understanding of the mechanisms as well as the functional and evolutionary relevance of circadian rhythms.
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Nguyen LTP, Kojima JI. Distribution and nests of paper wasps of Polistes (Polistella) in northeastern Vietnam, with description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae). Zookeys 2014:45-63. [PMID: 24478582 PMCID: PMC3904069 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.368.6426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seven species of the subgenus Polistella Ashmead of the genus Polistes Latreille including a new species, P. brunetus Nguyen & Kojima, sp. n. described here, are recognized to occur in northeastern Vietnam, the easternmost part of the eastern slope of the Himalayas. A key to these species is provided. Their distributional records are remarked. Nests of P. delhiensis Das & Gupta, P. mandarinus de Saussure and P. brunetus are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lien Thi Phuong Nguyen
- Insect Ecology Department, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Jun-Ichi Kojima
- Natural History Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512 Japan
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Ward DF, Ramón-Laca A. Molecular identification of the prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:4408-14. [PMID: 24340182 PMCID: PMC3856741 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2013] [Revised: 09/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp, Polistes chinensis antennalis, was studied using molecular diagnostics. Nests of paper wasps were collected from urban residential and salt marsh habitats, larvae were removed and dissected, and DNA in the gut of the paper wasp larvae was amplified and sequenced with cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Seventy percent of samples (211/299) yielded medium-to high-quality sequences, and prey identification was achieved using BLAST searches in BOLD. A total of 42 taxa were identified from 211 samples. Lepidoptera were the majority of prey, with 39 taxa from 91% of samples. Diptera was a relatively small component of prey (three taxa, 19 samples). Conclusive species-level identification of prey was possible for 67% of samples, and genus-level identification, for another 12% of samples. The composition of prey taken was different between the two habitats, with 2.5× more native prey species being taken in salt marsh compared with urban habitats. The results greatly extend the prey range of this invasive species. The technique is a more effective and efficient approach than relying on the collection of “prey balls”, or morphological identification of prey, for the study of paper wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren F Ward
- Landcare Research Private Bag 92170, Auckland, New Zealand
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