On the selection and production of queens in different stages of the colony cycle in the Epiponini (Vespidae: Polistinae)

• Grant number: 09/07526-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2009
• End date: August 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Barbosa Noll
• Grantee: Laura Elena Chavarría Pizarro
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Epiponini wasps are characterized by the presence of many queens in the colonies (polygyny). They alternate their number between many and few queens during the colony cycle. When the colony is in the growing phase there are many queens, but as colony grows queen number decreases and new queens will be produced only when queen number is close to one. Because within the colonies of Epiponini there may be conflicts among females, reproduction control could be done not only by the interaction between queens but also by queen-worker interactions. However, until now no studies focused on how changes in immature stages and adult females could help them to become queen. Also there are few studies about female behavioral changes on colonies in the queen production stage. In order to have a better understanding about these questions we aimed at investigating the behavior of queens and workers in the queen production and the selection stages for different species of Epiponini. Four species will be investigated: Chartegellus communis, Metapolybia docilis, Protopolybia exigua e Brachygastra augusti. Behavioral observations of the females will be made especially in queen production, selection and elimination stages. To promote queen production in colonies that will be not in a reproductive stage, queen removal tests will be performed. Queens, workers and newly emerged females will be marked to perform the behavioral observations. Behavioral evolution of these data also will be phylogenetic analyzed by character optimization in the most accepted tree for the tribe. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CHAVARRIA-PIZARRO, L.; SILVA, M.; NOLL, F. B.. Neotropical Swarm-Founding Wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae: Epiponini) Accept Expelled Queens in Case of Queen Loss. Sociobiology, v. 65, n. 2, p. 333-336, JUN 2018. (11/06058-5, 09/07526-2)

PIZARRO, LAURA CHAVARRIA; NOLL, FERNANDO BARBOSA. Males of Neotropical social wasps (Vespidae, Polistinae, Epiponini) recognize colonies with virgin females. JOURNAL OF HYMENOPTERA RESEARCH, v. 38, p. 135-139, 2014. (11/06058-5, 09/07526-2)

CHAVARRIA-PIZARRO, LAURA; DA SILVA, MARJORIE; AMENT, DANILO C.; ALMEIDA, EDUARDO A. B.; NOLL, FERNANDO BARBOSA. Behavioural evolution of Neotropical social wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae): the queen selection process. CLADISTICS, v. N/A, p. 14-pg., 2023-03-04. (11/06058-5, 19/09215-6, 09/07526-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PIZARRO, Laura Elena Chavarría. About queen production and selection in different stages of colony cycle in Epiponini (Vespidae:Polistinae).. 2013. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.