Morphological and physiological variation between queens and workers of Protonectarina sylveirae (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini)

Author(s)

Tanaka Junior, Getulio Minoru ^[1] ; Soleman, Raduan Alexandre ^[1] ; Noll, Fernando Barbosa ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias Letras & Ciiencias Exatas, Dept Bot & Zool, Lab Vespas Sociais, BR-15054000 Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Revista Brasileira de Entomologia; v. 54, n. 1, p. 104-109, JAN-MAR 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Morphological and physiological variation between queens and workers of Protonectarina sylveirae (de Saussure) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini). The Neotropical swarm-founding wasps, Epiponini, range from the absence of morphological differentiation between castes to highly distinct castes. We measured eight body parts of females of two colonies of Protonectarina sylveirae (de Saussure, 1854). ANOVA and Discriminant Analysis evidenced significant differences between castes, as previously observed by other authors for other species of Epiponini. However, some females previously categorized as queens, were actually workers, supported by our statistic analyses. These individuals showed intermediate morphological features between queens and workers, having distinct patterns of hairs and clypeal spots. The castes of P. sylveirae are distinct, however intermediate individuals may be found in colonies promoting social flexibility. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/08633-1 - Social interactions, foraging and biodiversity of neotropical social wasps.
• Grantee: Fernando Barbosa Noll
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants