Colony defense behavior of the primitively eusocial wasp, Mischocyttarus cerberus is related to age

Autor(es)

Togni, Olga Coutinho ^[1] ; Giannotti, Edilberto ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE; v. 10, AUG 18 2010.
• Citações Web of Science: 3

Resumo

The colony defense behavior of the wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus Richards (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) was studied to verify whether there were different reactions of wasps of different ages and hierarchical positions during attacks of ants. Detailed nest mapping was first performed, then the wasps were marked and were divided in four distinct categories: queens, older workers, younger workers and males. Tests were made simulating attacks of ants in the nests. The main results showed that the M. cerberus behaviors against ant attacks is more related to the age of the wasps than to their hierarchical position. The oldest wasps (queens and older workers) defend the nest more than the younger workers and males, representing a form of temporal polyethism. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 04/00074-5 - Comportamento de defesa do ninho de mischocyttarus cerberus styx (hymenoptera, vespidae) contra ataques de formiga.
• Beneficiário: Olga Coutinho Togni
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica