Deciphering the recognition signature within the cuticular chemical profile of paper wasps

Dani, Francesca Romana; Jones, Graeme R.; Destri, Simonetta; Spencer, S.; Turillazzi, Stefano

doi:10.1006/anbe.2001.1714

Cited by 199 publications

(165 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Bioassays developed in eusocial hymenopterans in which cuticular compounds have been removed and reapplied, or have been modified by the addition of compounds from external sources, have pointed to cuticular hydrocarbons as nest-mate recognition pheromones (Dani et al 2001(Dani et al , 2005Ruther et al 2002). Our results are unequivocal about the central role that cuticular compounds play in nest-mate recognition in M. postica.…”

Section: (B) Recognition Between a Live And Dead Femalesupporting

confidence: 51%

Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee

2007

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In eusocial Hymenoptera, females are more tolerant towards nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate females. In solitary Hymenoptera, females are generally aggressive towards any conspecific female. Field observations of the nest biology of Manuelia postica suggested nest-mate recognition. Experiments were performed involving two live interacting females or one live female interacting with a dead female. Live females from different nests were more intolerant to each other than females from the same nest. Females were more intolerant towards non-nest-mate than towards nest-mate dead females. When dead females were washed with pentane, no differences in tolerant and intolerant behaviours were detected between non-nest-mate and nest-mate females. Females were more intolerant towards nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a non-nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a nest-mate. The compositions of the cuticular extracts was more similar between females from the same nest than between females from different nests. The results demonstrate for the first time nest-mate recognition mediated by cuticular chemicals in a largely solitary species of Apidae. The position of Manuelia at the base of the Apidae phylogeny suggests that nest-mate recognition in eusocial species apical to Manuelia represents the retention of a primitive capacity in Apidae.

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Section: (B) Recognition Between a Live And Dead Femalesupporting

confidence: 51%

Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee

2007

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“…Quantitative traits that are characteristic for slavemakers included a higher relative abundance of short hydrocarbons and of n-alkanes, whereas methyl-branched alkanes were relatively less abundant. Hence, slavemakers carry less of the CHCs known to be important in recognition [13,14] including the putative recognition substances described for T. longispinosus [26]. Instead, they possess more n-alkanes, which are thought to have little recognition value [56].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Straight-chained alkanes are especially effective to prevent desiccation and their production is influenced by temperature, humidity and task [8,9], but they rarely play an important role in recognition [4,10]. Insertion of double bonds or methyl-branching decreases anti-desiccation capacity [11,12], but increases information content [13,14]. Increasing the fraction of alkenes and methylalkanes in the profile facilitates chemical communication [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of slavemaking lifestyle, caste and sex on chemical profiles in Temnothorax ants: insights into the evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons

Kleeberg¹,

Menzel²,

Foitzik³

2017

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Chemical communication is central for the formation and maintenance of insect societies. Generally, social insects only allow nest-mates into their colony, which are recognized by their cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs). Social parasites, which exploit insect societies, are selected to circumvent host recognition. Here, we studied whether chemical strategies to reduce recognition evolved convergently in slavemaking ants, and whether they extend to workers, queens and males alike. We studied CHCs of three social parasites and their related hosts to investigate whether the parasitic lifestyle selects for specific chemical traits that reduce host recognition. Slavemaker profiles were characterized by shorter-chained hydrocarbons and a shift from methyl-branched alkanes to n -alkanes, presumably to reduce recognition cue quantity. These shifts were consistent across independent origins of slavery and were found in isolated ants and those emerging in their mother colony. Lifestyle influenced profiles of workers most profoundly, with little effect on virgin queen profiles. We detected an across-species caste signal, with workers, for which nest-mate recognition is particularly important, carrying more and longer-chained hydrocarbons and males exhibiting a larger fraction of n -alkanes. This comprehensive study of CHCs across castes and species reveals how lifestyle-specific selection can result in convergent evolution of chemical phenotypes.

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“…But relatedness itself is a better predictor of behaviour than hydrocarbon differences [25]. This suggests either that wasps do not use hydrocarbon cues, or that specific components, rather than the overall hydrocarbon profile that has been measured to date, are the cues involved in recognition [31]. Even if odour-mixing makes it difficult for nest-mates to assess individual relatedness, one might expect wasps that are not yet part of a group to retain informative cues that could be used to avoid joining non-relatives.…”

Section: Recognition Errors: Mechanistic Constraints That Could Lead mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cooperation between non-relatives in a primitively eusocial paper wasp,Polistes dominula

Field

Leadbeater

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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One contribution of 18 to a theme issue 'The evolution of cooperation based on direct fitness benefits'. In cooperatively breeding vertebrates, the existence of individuals that help to raise the offspring of non-relatives is well established, but unrelated helpers are less well known in the social insects. Eusocial insect groups overwhelmingly consist of close relatives, so populations where unrelated helpers are common are intriguing. Here, we focus on Polistes dominula-the best-studied primitively eusocial wasp, and a species in which nesting with non-relatives is not only present but frequent. We address two major questions: why individuals should choose to nest with non-relatives, and why such individuals participate in the costly rearing of unrelated offspring. Polistes dominula foundresses produce more offspring of their own as subordinates than when they nest independently, providing a potential explanation for co-founding by non-relatives. There is some evidence that unrelated subordinates tailor their behaviour towards direct fitness, while the role of recognition errors in generating unrelated co-foundresses is less clear. Remarkably, the remote but potentially highly rewarding chance of inheriting the dominant position appears to strongly influence behaviour, suggesting that primitively eusocial insects may have much more in common with their social vertebrate counterparts than has commonly been thought.

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Deciphering the recognition signature within the cuticular chemical profile of paper wasps

Cited by 199 publications

References 21 publications

Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee

Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee

The influence of slavemaking lifestyle, caste and sex on chemical profiles in Temnothorax ants: insights into the evolution of cuticular hydrocarbons

Cooperation between non-relatives in a primitively eusocial paper wasp,Polistes dominula

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