The genetic structure of swarms and the timing of their production in the queen cycles of neotropical wasps

Abstract

Kin selection theory has received some of its strongest support from analyses of within‐colony conflicts between workers and queens in social insects. One of these conflicts involves the timing of queen production. In neotropical wasps, new queens are only produced by colonies with just one queen while males are produced by colonies with more queens, a pattern favoured by worker interests. We now show that new colonies, or swarms, have few queens and variable within‐colony relatednesses which means that their production is not tied to new queen production. The queens in these swarms are seldom the mothers of the workers in the swarm. Therefore, either colonies producing swarms have very many queens, or queens joining daughter swarms are reproductive losers on the original colonies. As new colony production is not linked to queen production, it can occur at the ecologically optimum time, i.e. the rainy season. This disassociation between queen production and new colony production allows worker interests in sex ratios to prevail without hampering new colony production at the most favourable season, an uncoupling that may contribute to the ecological success of the Epiponini.

An adaptive view of caste differentiation in the neotropical wasp Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

“…Usually colonies with a few or a single queen favor the production of new queens while colonies of multiple queens favor the production of males. This occurs because workers are three times more closely related to their sisters than to their brothers in single-queen colonies and equally related to their nieces and nephews in multiplequeen colonies (Strassmann et al 1998). In most social insects the production of daughter colonies are tied to the production of new queens.…”

“…In most social insects the production of daughter colonies are tied to the production of new queens. In the Epiponini, however, there is a disconnection between these two events which allows the Epipoini to form new colonies during the most favorable season, contributing to ecological success of this tribe in the neotropical region (Strassmann et al 1998).…”

“…Such a scenario would act against social cohesion. An opposite situation occurs when levels of polygyny are low and queens are closely related (Hamilton 1972, Queller et al 1993, Strassmann et al 1998, Nascimento et al 2004. Additionally, a recent study showed through gene-based simulations, that cooperative behavior would be favored by multiple matings (Nonacs 2011).…”

Slaves of the environment: the movement of herbivorous insects in relation to their ecology and genotype

“…Hence, there is much to be learnt regarding the mechanisms of gene £ow and dispersal events (Strassmann et al 1998;Villablanca et al 1998). Many insect species showing variable £ight behavioural forms have alternate genotypes which in turn give rise to di¡erent patterns of genetic variation and gene £ow.…”

Análise dos comportamentos envolvidos na organização social e no processo de enxameio de Parachartergus fraternus (Hymenoptera, Polistinae, Epiponini).

“…Cunhou-se, assim, o termo oligoginia cíclica para especificar que, durante a ontogênese, uma colônia de Epiponini pode apresentar alternância entre alto e baixo número de rainhas, com produção de rainhas-filhas apenas na etapa em que as rainhasmães estejam ocorrendo em freqüências reduzidas. A utilização de técnicas biomoleculares contribuiu para validar o modelo em questão, pois vários trabalhos têm revelado o elevado parentesco ocorrente entre operárias de uma mesma colônia Hughes et al, 1993;Solís et al, 1998;Strassmann et al, 1991Strassmann et al, , 1997Strassmann et al, , 1998). …”