Impact of biopesticides on sexual partner selection in male social wasps

• Grant number: 25/06840-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Animal Behavior
• Principal Investigator: André Rodrigues de Souza
• Grantee: Daniela Alejandra Torres Garcia
• Supervisor: David Baracchi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Firenze, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/03055-5 - Terminal investment in male social insects, BP.MS

Abstract

Social insects are remarkable for their biological success and their crucial role in various ecosystem functions. Among them, social wasps serve as natural predators, helping regulate arthropod populations. However, several factors can alter this ecological balance, including the use of biopesticides, whose impact on social insects remains poorly understood. The use of biopesticides has increased as an alternative to synthetic pesticides, yet their potential impact on non-target organisms, particularly on insect reproductive biology, are still understudied. Beauveria bassiana, an entomopathogenic fungus widely used for pest control, has shown adverse effects on social insects, including reduced survival and reproductive success in Polistes dominula. However, its influence on the reproductive behavior of wasps remains unknown. This study evaluates whether P. dominula males can discriminate between healthy and B. bassiana-infected females, analyzing behavioral and chemical cues related to mate selection. Laboratory experiments will assess male preference through physical interactions, while chemical analyses will determine alterations in female cuticular hydrocarbons due to infection. Understanding these effects is crucial, as disruptions in sexual communication and mate choice could have long-term consequences for colony dynamics and population stability. To carry out this research, an internship will be undertaken at the Cognitive and Behavioral Ecology Lab at the University of Florence, under the supervision of Prof. David Baracchi. This laboratory is a reference in the study of cognition in insects, behavioral ecology and chemical communication, providing access to advanced techniques to analyze chemical signaling and reproductive behavior. It also has a strong track record in pioneering research on social wasps. The exchange will enhance the candidate's research expertise and foster scientific collaboration, contributing to a broader understanding of how biopesticides can interfere with the reproductive ecology of social wasps and, consequently, their role in ecosystem functioning.