Variation of cuticular hydrocarbons and secretion contents of exocrine glands in workers of Polybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)

• Grant number: 16/11887-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2016
• End date: May 01, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Grantee: Amanda Prato da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 17/14967-1 - Analysis of compounds from exocrine glands in the eusocial wasp Polybia occidentalis, BE.EP.MS

Abstract

Social insects live in colonies that have a self-organization where their ndividuals perform different tasks. You can define a sequence of tasks in relation to age. Younger workers perform tasks inside the nest and then develop tasks out of the nest (age polyethism). This complex organization needs a mechanism to coordinate the various activities in the nest, one of them is the chemical communication made by cuticular hydrocarbons (HC). HC act as a chemical signature of the colony, which serves to recognize individuals who belong to the nest or not, and also provide information concerning age, gender, race, variety, fertility, physiological state, among others. The objectives of this study are: 1. To investigate the variations in HC profiles in relation to age polyethism; 2 Treat individuals with synthetic substances (methoprene and precocene) and check for any changes in cuticular and glandular components and the tasks performed; 3- To evaluate the products released by the mandibular glands, labial glands and Dufour gland. For such, colonies will be used in the natural environment where individuals marked, treated or not, will be returned for observation. Thus, it is expected that topical applications of similar synthetic substances affect the development related to the activities of workers of Polybia occidentalis. (AU)

Scientific publications

(5)

(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)

PRATO, AMANDA; DA SILVA, RAFAEL CARVALHO; MATEUS, SIDNEI; DO NASCIMENTO, FABIO SANTOS. A Technique for Transferring Nests of Polybia (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini) Wasps in Anthropized Environment. Sociobiology, v. 69, n. 2, p. 5-pg., 2022-06-01. (18/10996-0, 16/11887-4, 18/22461-3)

DA SILVA, R. C.; PRATO, A. S.; ASSTS, D. S.; NASCIMENTO, F. S.. Occurrence and nesting behavior of social wasps in an anthropized environment. Sociobiology, v. 66, n. 2, p. 381-388, JUN 2019. (18/22461-3, 16/11887-4, 18/10996-0, 15/17358-0)

PRATO, AMANDA; DA SILVA, RAFAEL CARVALHO; OI, CINTIA AKEMI; CASANOVA TURATTI, IZABEL CRISTINA; DO NASCIMENTO, FABIO SANTOS. Juvenile hormone regulates reproductive physiology and the production of fertility cues in the swarm-founding wasp Polybia occidentalis. Chemoecology, v. 32, n. 4-5, p. 10-pg., 2022-09-17. (18/10996-0, 16/11887-4, 18/22461-3)

DA SILVA, RAFAEL CARVALHO; PRATO, AMANDA; OI, CINTIA AKEMI; TURATTI, IZABEL CRISTINA CASANOVA; DO NASCIMENTO, FABIO SANTOS. Dominance Hierarchy, Ovarian Activity and Cuticular Hydrocarbons in the Primitively Eusocial WaspMischocyttarus cerberus(Vespidae, Polistinae, Mischocyttarini). Journal of Chemical Ecology, v. 46, n. 9, p. 835-844, SEP 2020. (18/22461-3, 18/10996-0, 16/11887-4)

PRATO, AMANDA; DA SILVA, RAFAEL C.; ASSIS, DIEGO S.; MATEUS, SIDNEI; HARTFELDER, KLAUS; DO NASCIMENTO, FABIO S.. Juvenile hormone affects age polyethism, ovarian status and cuticular hydrocarbon profile in workers of the wasp Polybia occidentalis. Journal of Experimental Biology, v. 224, n. 13, JUL 2021. (15/17358-0, 18/10996-0, 18/22461-3, 16/11887-4)