Summary
The intraspecific variability of the nest structures ofPolistes dominulus is described quantitatively. Several variables already used in the literature (e.g. wall expenditure and diameter ratio) are reexamined and a number of new ones are suggested. Variables are analyzed with respect to their dependency on the size and the maturation of the colony.
The analyses were based on mathematical functions deduced for ideal nest growth. In the examined species, the numbers of outer walls and buildable cells do not differ significantly from those calculated for the ideal growth, demonstrating that the real nests are close to the “ideal” round form.
P. dominulus builds compact and well-centered nests. The shape of the comb remains compact during the maturation of the nest. The eccentricity changes during maturation: it is significantly greater in the mature stage than in younger combs.
Analysis reveals that the wasps prefer to initiate a new cell in a position where it will have at least three neighbors. The nests in different age groups not only differed in height, but were also under the control of three different constraints: the structure itself, the large larvae and indirectly the meconium.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Downing, H. A. and R. L. Jeanne, 1986. Intra and interspecific variation in nest architecture in the paper waspPolistes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).Ins. Soc. 33:422–443.
Downing, H. A. and R. L. Jeanne, 1987. A comparison of nest construction behavior in two species ofPolistes paper wasps (Insecta. Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. Ethol 5:53–66.
Downing, H. A. and R. L. Jeanne, 1988. Nest construction by the paper wasp,Polistes: a test of stigmergy theory.Anim. Behav. 36:1729–1739.
Downing, H. A. and R. L. Jeanne, 1990. The regulation of complex behaviour in the paper wasp,Polistes fuscatus (Insecta, Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Anim. Behav. 39:105–124.
Gervet, J., 1966. Elements pour l'étude d'un acte instinctif: la surélévation des alvéoles en présence de larves chez la guepePoliste (Hymen. Vesp.)Z. Tierpsychol. 23:769–798.
Ishay, J. S., E., Rosenzweig and V. A. Paniry, 1982. The genesis of hexagonal cells and the frugality in comb and cell building by social Vespinae (Hymenoptera).Ins. Soc. 29:34–43.
Jeanne, R. L., 1972. Social biology of the neotropical waspMischocyttarus drewseni.Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 144:63–150.
Jeanne, R. L., 1975. The adaptiveness of social wasp nest architecture.Quart. Rev. Biol. 50:267–287.
Jeanne, R. L., 1986. The organization of work inPolybia occidentalis: costs and benefits of specialization in a social wasp.Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 19:333–341.
Jeanne, R. L., 1991. The swarm-founding Polistinae. In:The Social Biology of Wasps (K. G. Ross and R. W. Matthes, Eds.), Comstock Publ. Assoc., Ithaca, pp. 191–2321.
Karsai, I., 1996. Brood patterns on the wasp combs: influence of brood to the egg-laying and building of adults.Ethol. Ecol. & Evol. (in press).
Karsai, I. and G. Theraulaz, 1995. Building in a social wasps: postures and constraints.Sociobiology 26:83–114.
Karsai, I. and Z. Pénzes, 1993. Comb building in social wasps: self-organization and stigmergic script.J. Theor. Biol. 161:505–525.
Kojima, J. and R. L. Jeanne, 1986. Nest ofRopalidia (Icariela) nigricens andR. (I) extrema from the Philippines with the reference to the evolutionary radiation in nest architecture within the subgenusIcariella (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Biotropica 18:324–336.
Kojima, J., 1982. Nest architecture of threeRopalidia species (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) on Leyte Island, The Philippines.Biotropica 14:272–280.
Kojima, J., 1988. Nest construction ofRopalidia fasciata (Vespidae; Hymenoptera).Kontyu 56:169–179.
Pénzes, Z. and I. Karsai, 1993. Round shape combs produced by stigmergic scripts in social wasp.Proceeding Manuscript of European Conference of Artificial Life, Brussels, pp. 896–905.
Pratte, M., 1990. Effects of changes in brood composition of the activities of three associated foundresses of the paper waspPolistes dominulus (Christ).Behav. Proc. 22:187–195.
Saussure, H., 1852–1858.Etudes sur la Famille des Vespides. Masson, Paris.
Starr, C. K., 1991. The nest as the locus of social life. In:The Social Biology of Wasps (K. G. Ross and R. W. Matthews, Eds.), Comstock Publ. Assoc., Ithaca, pp. 520–539.
Theraulaz, G., J. Gervet, B. Thon, M. Pratte and S. Semenoff-Tian-Chanski, 1992. The dynamics of colony organization in the primitively eusocial waspPolistes dominulus Christ.Ethology 91:177–202.
Wenzel, J. W., 1989. Endogenous factors, external cues, and eccentric construction inPolistes annularis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. Insect Behav. 2:679–699.
Wenzel, J. W., 1991. Evolution of nest architecture. In:The Social Biology of Wasps (K. G. Ross and R. W. Matthews, Eds.), Comstock Rubl. Assoc., Ithaca, pp. 480–519.
Wenzel, J. W., 1993. Application of the biogenetic law to behavioral ontogeny: a test using nest architecture in paper wasp.J. Evol. Biol. 6:679–699.
West Eberhard, M. J., 1969. The social biology of Polistine wasps.Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 140:1–101.
Yamane, S. and S. Makino, 1977. Bionomics ofVespa analis insularis andV. mandarina latilineata in Hokkaido, northern Japan, with notes on Vespine embryo nests (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Insecta Matsumurana (N.S.) 12:1–33).
Yamane, S., 1984. Nest architecture of two oriental paper wasps,Parapolybia varia andP. nodosa, with notes on its adaptive significance (Vespidae, Polistinae).Zool. Jb. Syst. 111:119–141.
Zar, J. H., 1984.Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karsai, I., Pénzes, Z. Intraspecific variation in the comb structure ofPolistes dominulusi parameters, maturation, nest size and cell arrangement. Ins. Soc 43, 277–296 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01242929
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01242929