Observations on Forced Colony Emigration in Parachartergus fraternus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini): New Nest Site Marked with Sprayed Venom

Five cases of colony emigration induced by removal of nest envelope and combs and a single one by manipulation are described. The disturbance was followed by defensive patterns, buzz running, and adult dispersion. An odor trail created by abdomen dragging, probably depositing venom or Dufour's...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psyche (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 2011, Vol.2011 (2011), p.42-49
Main Author: Mateus, Sidnei
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Clouds
Colonies
Dufour's gland
Emigration
Envelopes
Environmental aspects
Hymenoptera
Insect communication
Insect societies
Mouth
Nests
Odor
Parachartergus
Psychological aspects
Pulp
Running
Secretions
Swarms
Venom
Vespidae
Wasps
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Summary:Five cases of colony emigration induced by removal of nest envelope and combs and a single one by manipulation are described. The disturbance was followed by defensive patterns, buzz running, and adult dispersion. An odor trail created by abdomen dragging, probably depositing venom or Dufour's gland secretions, connected the original nest to the newly selected nesting place and guided the emigration. The substrate of the selected nesting place is intensely sprayed with venom prior to emigration, and this chemical cue marked the emigration end point. The colony moves to the new site in a diffuse cloud with no temporary clusters formed along the odor trail. At the original nest, scouts performed rapid gaster dragging and intense mouth contacts stimulating inactive individuals to depart. Males were unable to follow the swarm. Individual scouts switched between different behavioral tasks before and after colony emigration. Pulp collected from the old nest was reused at the new nest site.
ISSN:0033-2615
1687-7438
1687-7438
DOI:10.1155/2011/157149