Life history and chemical ecology of the Warrior wasp Synoeca septentrionalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)

• Published in: PloS one 2018-03, Vol.13 (3), p.e0194689-e0194689
• Main Authors: Santos, Eliaber B, Shemilt, Sue, de Carvalho, Carlos A L, Martin, Stephen J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Alkenes; Animal behavior; Animal social behavior; Animals; Apis mellifera; Bees; Behavior; Biology and Life Sciences; Brazil; Chemical ecology; Colonies; Cuticular hydrocarbons; Defensive behavior; Ecological monitoring; Ecology; Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Ecosystem; Environmental research; Epiponini; Female; Formica exsecta; Hierarchy, Social; Honey; Hydrocarbons; Hymenoptera; Life history; Male; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nesting Behavior - physiology; Nests; Physical Sciences; Physiology; Queens; Research and Analysis Methods; Social Behavior; Social Sciences; Species; Tropical environment; Tropical environments; Vespidae; Wasps - growth & development; Wasps - physiology; Workers (insect caste)
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194689

Swarm-founding 'Warrior wasps' (Synoeca spp.) are found throughout the tropical regions of South America, are much feared due to their aggressive nest defence and painful sting. There are only five species of Synoeca, all construct distinctive nests that consist of a single sessile comb built onto the surface of a tree or rock face, which is covered by a ribbed envelope. Although locally common, research into this group is just starting. We studied eight colonies of Synoeca septentrionalis, a species recently been described from Brazil. A new colony is established by a swarm of 52 to 140 adults that constructs a colony containing around 200 brood cells. The largest colony collected containing 865 adults and over 1400 cells. The number of queen's present among the eight colonies varied between 3 and 58 and no clear association between colony development and queen number was detected. Workers and queens were morphologically indistinguishably, but differences in their cuticular hydrocarbons were detected, particularly in their (Z)-9-alkenes. The simple cuticular profile, multiple queens, large size and small number of species makes the 'Warrior wasps' an excellent model group for further chemical ecology studies of swarm-founding wasps.