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EFFECTS OF COLONY DIVISION ON FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS IN POLISTES FUSCATUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Jack P. van Bendegem ,
David L. Gibo  and
Thomas M. Alloway
Jack P. van Bendegem
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6
David L. Gibo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6
Thomas M. Alloway
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6
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Abstract

Three colonies of Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius), each with two foundresses, were bisected during the pre-emergence stage and separated for 20 days. In the absence of the dominant, each subordinate foundrss became an egg-laying queen on her half of the nest. The dominant foundress did not exhibit superior reproductive productivity. The split colonies were reunited by placing the nests approximately 4.0 cm apart in a single nest box. Each foundress and all workers were observed tending both half-colonies, and the original dominance hierarchy was apparently restored in two of the three colonies.

Résumé

Trois colonies de Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius), chacune comptant deux fondatrices, ont été divisées en deux durant la phase pré-émergence et maintenues séparées pendant 20 jours. En l’absence de la dominante, les deux fondatrices subordonnées se sont transformées en reines fécondes dans leur moitié du nid. La fondatrice dominante n’a pas montré une capacité supérieure de reproduction. Les colonies divisées ont été réunies en plaçant les nids environ à 4.0 cm l’un de l’autre dans une même boîte à nid. Les deux fondatrices de même que toutes les ouvrières ont été observées s’occupant des deux moitiés de colonies, et la hiérarchie de dominance originale est réapparue chez deux des trois colonies.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 113 , Issue 6 , June 1981 , pp. 551 - 556
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1981

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