Simulated Intraspecific Usurpations in Paper Wasps: Different Reproductive Tactics Affect Foreign Brood Destruction in Polistes fuscatus and Polistes dominulus. (26th June 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wensink, Stacey M.; Hoffman, Jordan R.; Gamboa, George J.; Koenig, W.
• Is Part Of: Ethology. Volume 119:Number 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: 745
• Page End: 750
• Publication Date: 2013-06-26
• Subjects: Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1111/eth.12113
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0179-1613

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="eth12113-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We simulated intraspecific usurpation in two species of paper wasps at a field site in Michigan to compare the species' treatment of foreign brood. Queens of <italic>Polistes fuscatus</italic>, a species that commonly uses intraspecific usurpation as an alternative reproductive tactic, destroyed significantly fewer large larvae and significantly more small larvae than queens of <italic>P. dominulus</italic>, a sympatric species that rarely usurps. The pattern of brood destruction exhibited by <italic>P. fuscatus</italic> was consistent with the previously published findings that <italic>P. fuscatus</italic> usurpers destroy reproductive‐destined brood (eggs and small larvae), but not worker‐destined brood (large larvae and pupae) that are subsequently used by a usurper to raise her own reproductives. The pattern of brood destruction displayed by <italic>P. dominulus</italic> differed from that of <italic>Polistes</italic> species that frequently engage in intraspecific usurpation. The brood destruction pattern in <italic>P. dominulus</italic> may have been shaped by nest adoption, a common alternative reproductive tactic in this species. If so, it is not clear why <italic>P. dominulus</italic> would destroy large, worker‐destined larvae.</p> </abstract>