Foundation Pattern, Productivity and Colony Success of the Paper Wasp,Polistes versicolor

Abstract

Polistes versicolor (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) colonies are easily found in anthropic environments; however there is little information available on biological, ecological and behavioral interactions of this species under these environmental conditions. The objective of this work was to characterize the foundation pattern, the productivity, and the success of colonies of P. versicolor in anthropic environments. From August 2003 to December 2004, several colonies were studied in the municipal district of Juiz de Fora, Southeastern Brazil. It was possible to determine that before the beginning of nest construction the foundress accomplishes recognition flights in the selected area, and later begins the construction of the peduncle and the first cell. As soon as new cells are built, the hexagonal outlines appear and the peduncle is reinforced. Foundation of nests on gypsum plaster was significantly larger (p < 0.0001; χ2 test) in relation to the other types of substrate, revealing the synantropism of the species. On average, the P. versicolor nest presents 244.2 ± 89.5 (100–493) cells and a medium production of 171.67 ± 109.94 (37–660) adults. Cells that produced six individuals were verified. Usually, new colonies were founded by an association of females, responsible for the success of 51.5%. Although these results enlarge knowledge on the foundation pattern of P. versicolor in anthropic environments, other aspects of the foundation process require further investigation.

Effect of Human Disturbance on Colony Productivity of the Social Wasp Polistes versicolor Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

“…1 and 2). Ramos & Diniz (1993) and Oliveira et al (2010) analyzed the productivity of P. versicolor colonies and found cells producing 4 and 6 generations, respectively, values close to those observed here. However, the difference between the 3 or 4 generations produced by the two populations is probably due to different strategies for reuse of the comb, since colonies in the habitat more altered invest more in reusing cells, while in the habitat less altered the colony productivity is ensured by construction of new cells, resulting in large nests with a higher proportion of productive cells (Figs.…”

“…The number of cells constructed and the number of adults produced were larger in the habitat less altered (Table 1). Oliveira et al (2010) found a positive correlation between the number of cells constructed and the total number of adults produced in colonies of P. versicolor; however, all these colonies were evaluated in an urban environment. These authors reported that the colonies produced on average 244 ± 89.5 cells and 171.67 ± 109.94 adults, values close to those found in this study for the habitat more altered.…”

“…RESEARCH ARTIClE -WASPS Santos & Gobbi (1998), Inagawa et al (2001) and Gamboa et al (2005) evaluated the effect of habitat on the colony productivity of the social wasps, while others such as Penna et al (2007), Montagna et al (2010), Oliveira et al (2010) and Sinzato et al (2011) evaluated the productivity in urban environments. However, only Michelutti et al (2013) compared the productivity of colonies between environments with high and low degrees of human interference, in M. consimilis.…”

“…Polistes versicolor (Olivier, 1791) builds nests formed by a single, uncovered comb attached to the substratum by a single petiole (Richards, 1978). This species is facultatively synanthropic, since it is associated with human constructions (Oliveira et al, 2010) and also occurs in natural environments. Studies of predation (Butignol, 1992;Prezoto et al, 2006) and productivity (Ramos & Diniz, 1993;Oliveira et al, 2010) have been performed with this species, but none has evaluated the alteration of habitat by human activity on this aspect.…”

“…This species is facultatively synanthropic, since it is associated with human constructions (Oliveira et al, 2010) and also occurs in natural environments. Studies of predation (Butignol, 1992;Prezoto et al, 2006) and productivity (Ramos & Diniz, 1993;Oliveira et al, 2010) have been performed with this species, but none has evaluated the alteration of habitat by human activity on this aspect. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of the habitat alteration, particularly by human activity, on the productivity of P. versicolor.…”