Nest-based information transfer and foraging activation in the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

Abstract

The apparent absence of intra-nest signals and communication about food resources (recruitment) among social wasps does not rule out the possibility of information transfer and coordinated foraging among nestmates. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that the common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) shows nest-based information transfer and foraging activation: an increase in the probability of an individual leaving the nest as a result of information about resources received from successful foragers. We controlled for the possibility of local enhancement, chemical trails at the food source and climatic variation. We found evidence that food choice and discovery of resources in the field by naïve foragers were assisted by information previously or simultaneously provided by experienced nestmates. This information was related to chemical cues associated with the food and possibly to its location. Our observations suggest piloting between common wasp foragers. At the trained nest, there was a change in foraging effort at the colony level when known resources were available. Reactivated, experienced foragers were the main group responsible for the increase in foraging traffic rate observed at the colony level. To our knowledge, this is the first study clearly demonstrating nest-based information transfer about food resources in V. vulgaris and one of the few providing evidence of foraging activation in social wasps. Our data are consistent with the possibility of recruitment in this group of social insects.

Feeding by the Social WaspPolybia scutellaris(Hymenoptera: Vespidae) onSyzygium jambos(Myrtaceae) Fruits in Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Iamb fruit on the soil used by P. scutellaris had preexisting damage and was fermenting (Dvořák & Landolt 2006;Landolt et al 2014). Ground fall fruits were visited by this wasp due to recruitment and information on available food resources Sabrina et al 2014;Santoro et al 2015).…”

Social Learning in Vespula Germanica Wasps: Do They Use Collective Foraging Strategies?

“…Recent literature has shown that nest-based recruitment seems to occur in Vespula vulgaris [ 29 ] and V. pennsylvanica Vespid wasps [ 30 ]. In Vespula germanica few studies on the recruitment processes have been conducted [ 25 , 31 , 32 ].…”

Essential oils as vespid wasp repellents: Implications for their use as a management strategy

“…Moreover, nest recruitment has also been demonstrated in this species (Lozada, D'Adamo, Buteler, & Kuperman, 2016;Overmyer & Jeanne, 1998;Santoro, Hartley, Suckling, & Lester, 2015;Schueller, Nordheim, Taylor, & Jeanne, 2010;Taylor, Schalk, & Jeannem, 2010).…”