Sexy Faces in a Male Paper Wasp

Autor(es)

de Souza, Andre Rodrigues ^[1] ; Mourao Junior, Carlos Alberto ^[2] ; do Nascimento, Fabio Santos ^[3] ; Lino-Neto, Jose ^[4]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Vicosa, Dept Entomol, Vicosa, MG - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Juiz de Fora, Dept Fisiol, Juiz De Fora, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Biol, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Vicosa, Dept Biol Geral, Vicosa, MG - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PLoS One; v. 9, n. 5 MAY 21 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 15

Resumo

Sexually selected signals are common in many animals, though little reported in social insects. We investigated the occurrence of male visual signals mediating the dominance relationships among males and female choice of sexual partner in the paper wasp Polistes simillimus. Males have three conspicuous, variable and sexually dimorphic traits: black pigmentation on the head, a pair of yellow abdominal spots and body size differences. By conducting behavioral assays, we found that none of the three visual traits are associated with male-male dominance relationship. However, males with higher proportion of black facial pigmentation and bigger yellow abdominal spots are more likely chosen as sexual partners. Also, after experimentally manipulating the proportion of black pigment on males' face, we found that females may evaluate male facial coloration during the choice of a sexual partner. Thus, the black pigmentation on P. simillimus male's head appears to play a role as a sexually selected visual signal. We suggest that sexual selection is a common force in Polistes and we highlight the importance of this group as a model for the study of visual communication in insects. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/10027-5 - Mediação comportamental, sinalização química e aspectos fisiológicos reguladores da organização social em himenópteros
• Beneficiário: Fábio Santos do Nascimento
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Jovens Pesquisadores