Nestmate recognition in social wasps: manipulation of hydrocarbon profiles induces aggression in the European hornet

Rüther, Joachim; Sieben, Stefan; Schricker, B.

doi:10.1007/s00114-001-0292-9

Cited by 81 publications

(72 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…Thus, through the chemical signals and due to the contact not only with the adult individuals between themselves and with the off-spring, but also with the nest substrate, the social insects can identify their nestmates from others (Gamboa, 1996). Ruther et al (2002) supported the hypothesis that colony specific cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are involved in the phenomenon of nestmate recognition among social insects. According to Shellman and Gamboa (1982), newly emerged females acquire this ability trough the exposition with its own nest material, and Espelie et al (1990) noticed that the nest substrate is rich in hydrocarbon compounds produced by colony's members, so to Gamboa (1996), the nest odor is like a colonial signature to be a reference to nestmate recognition.…”

supporting

confidence: 68%

Intraspecific Variation of the Composition of Linear Alkanes in Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis

et al. 2017

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An important attribute of the evolution and maintenance of sociality in insects is their ability to distinguish members of their own colonies by means of chemical signals during their interactions. Of this type of signals, the cuticular hydrocarbons, responsible among other functions, for intraspecific recognition stand out. Linear alkanes are indicated as the class of compounds that would be most involved in water retention in the body of insects, however, some studies have investigated their role as mediators of interactions. Thus it is possible that there is significant intraspecific variation of its composition, so the objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that linear alkanes vary significantly among populations, castes and sexes, as well as between newly emerged females of different ages of the Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán 1949 wasp. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The results show that there is a significant variation between the chemical cuticular profiles of samples from different populations, as well as between castes, sex and newly emergent workers of different ages. Therefore, it is possible to infer that this class of compounds may vary according to genetic differences between populations, but also by different environmental conditions. The differences between castes, sex and ages suggest that these compounds may also be involved in mediating interactions between nestmates.

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confidence: 68%

Intraspecific Variation of the Composition of Linear Alkanes in Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis

et al. 2017

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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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“…In addition, CHC have important semiochemical functions as sex attractants, contact pheromones, aggregation and alarm pheromones, chemical defenses, kairomonal cues for parasites, and inter-and intra-specific recognition cues (Howard and Blomquist 2005). Most social insects that have been investigated, including ants, bees, wasps, and termites, have developed chemical communication systems in which CHC are used as cues that enable recognition of conspecifics (Bagnères et al 1991a, b;Takahashi and Gassa 1995), nestmates (Liang and Silverman 2000;Wagner et al 2000;Ruther et al 2002), and castes (Bonavita-Cougourdan et al 1989).…”

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confidence: 99%

Colony Fusion in Argentine Ants is Guided by Worker and Queen Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profile Similarity

2009

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Introduced populations of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile, have experienced moderate to severe losses of genetic diversity, which may have affected nestmate recognition to various degrees. We hypothesized that cuticular hydrocarbons (CHC) serve as nestmate recognition cues, and facilitate colony fusion of unrelated L. humile colonies that share similar CHC profiles. In this study, we paired six southeastern U.S. L. humile colonies in a 6-month laboratory fusion assay, and determined if worker and queen CHC profile similarity between colonies was associated with colony fusion and intercolony genetic similarity. We also compared worker and queen CHC profiles between fused colony pairs and unpaired controls to determine if worker and queen chemical profiles changed after fusion. We found that colony fusion correlated with the CHC similarity of workers and queens, with the frequency of fusion increasing with greater CHC profile similarity between colonies. Worker and queen CHC profile similarity between colonies also was associated with genetic similarity between colonies. Queen CHC profiles in fused colonies appeared to be a mix of the two colony phenotypes. In contrast, when only one of the paired colonies survived, the CHC profile of the surviving queens did not diverge from that of the colony of origin. Similarly, workers in non-fused colonies maintained their colonyspecific CHC, whereas in fused colonies the worker CHC profiles were intermediate between those of the two colonies. These results suggest a role for CHC in regulating interactions among mutually aggressive L. humile colonies, and demonstrate that colony fusion correlates with both genetic and CHC similarities. Further, changes in worker and queen chemical profiles in fused colonies suggest that CHC plasticity may sustain the cohesion of unrelated L. humile colonies that had fused.

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Nestmate recognition in social wasps: manipulation of hydrocarbon profiles induces aggression in the European hornet

Cited by 81 publications

References 18 publications

Intraspecific Variation of the Composition of Linear Alkanes in Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis

Intraspecific Variation of the Composition of Linear Alkanes in Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis

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

Colony Fusion in Argentine Ants is Guided by Worker and Queen Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profile Similarity

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