Behaviour and chemical signature of pre-hibernating females of Polistes dominulus infected by the strepsipteran Xenos vesparum

Parasitology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 545-552 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. DAPPORTO ◽  
A. CINI ◽  
E. PALAGI ◽  
M. MORELLI ◽  
A. SIMONTI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbons ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Physiological Condition ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Polistes Dominulus ◽  
Chemical Similarity ◽  
Cuticular Waxes ◽  
Helping Behaviour

Polistes dominulus are social wasps which are the host of the strepsipteran endoparasite Xenos vesparum. In the hibernating phase, unparasitized and parasitized wasps leave natal nests and aggregate together in sheltered quarters. In aggregations, wasps are socially active, and some individuals perform helping behaviour. Here we investigated if castrated parasitized wasps perform worker tasks in mixed aggregations. Moreover, by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, we examined the cuticular hydrocarbons of unparasitized and parasitized wasps to evaluate if the infection alters the composition of cuticular waxes that are recognition cues in social insects. In clusters, infected females do not perform helping behaviour and they are less active than unparasitized wasps. Cuticular hydrocarbons are slightly differentiated between unparasitized and parasitized wasps but, generally, unparasitized wasps are more similar to wasps infected by Xenos females compared to wasps infected by Xenos males. Wasps infected by Xenos males do not usually survive the winter. This chemical similarity is probably a consequence of the similar physiological condition of unparasitized and female-affected Polistes wasps. At this stage, it is difficult to affirm whether these modifications are a true parasite manipulation or a consequence of infection.

scholarly journals Linear alkanes as a tool to evaluate intraspecific differences in social wasps

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti ◽  
Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso ◽  
William Fernando Antonialli-Junior
Keyword(s):  
Cuticular Hydrocarbons ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Significant Variation ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Branched Alkanes ◽  
Linear Alkanes ◽  
Intraspecific Relationships

Cuticular hydrocarbons are found in the epicuticle of insects and act during interactions between nestmates in social insects. Among the classes of these compounds, branched alkanes stand out acting as flags during intracolonial interactions, therefore, varying significantly intraspecificaly. However, there is evidence that linear alkanes can also act as signals in these interactions and therefore would also be important to assess intraspecific differences in colonies of social insects. Thus, the hypothesis of this study is that linear alkanes can be used as a tool to establish intraspecific relationships in a species of social wasp. Linear alkanes of all developmental stages were evaluated from colonies of the species Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). 21 linear alkanes were detected, with the majority ranging from n-C26 to n-C33. There is significant variation between the compounds of all developmental stages, both from samples of different colonies and populations. Therefore, the results validate the hypothesis that variation in composition of linear alkanes can be useful to assess intraspecific differences in social wasps.

scholarly journals Variation in Chemical Composition of Cuticular and Nonpolar Compounds of Venom of Apoica pallens and Polistes versicolor

Sociobiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 367
Author(s):  
Angelica Mendonça ◽  
Kamylla Balbuena Michelutti ◽  
Claudia Andrea Lima Carsoso ◽  
William Fernando Antonialli Junior
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Wasps ◽  
Signaling System ◽  
Population Number ◽  
Branched Alkanes ◽  
Evolutionary Success ◽  
Nonpolar Compounds

Although cuticular hydrocarbons and venom are important to the evolutionary success of social behavior, studies that investigated these compounds in tropical social wasps are rare. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the cuticular chemical composition and the nonpolar portion of venom of Apoica pallens, a swarm-founding wasp and Polistes versicolor an independent-founding wasp. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique was used. In the samples of A. pallens, 66 compounds were identified on the cuticle and 87 in venom, 13 are unique of the cuticle and 26 of venom. In the samples of P. versicolor, 85 compounds were identified on the cuticle and 60 in venom, 10 are exclusive of the cuticle and 5 of venom. The results show that, although they present different foundation types and organize in colonies with significantly different population number, the variation in chain length of compounds is relatively similar. In addition, in both types of samples of both species, the most representative class of compounds in content and number are the branched alkanes, which are recognized as the most effective during interactions between nestmates. However, there is greater similarity in content of shared compounds between samples of cuticle and venom of A. pallens, suggesting that because it is a species that is organized in more populous colonies, it may have a more elaborate signaling system based on volatile compounds of venom.

scholarly journals Parasitic wasps avoid ant-protected hemipteran hosts via the detection of ant cuticular hydrocarbons

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1942) ◽  
pp. 20201684
Author(s):  
Angelos Mouratidis ◽  
Sandra Vacas ◽  
Julieta Herrero ◽  
Vicente Navarro-Llopis ◽  
Marcel Dicke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Cuticular Hydrocarbons ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Parasitic Wasp ◽  
Parasitic Wasps ◽  
Potential Cost ◽  
First Time ◽  
Phloem Feeding

One of the most studied and best-known mutualistic relationships between insects is that between ants and phloem-feeding insects. Ants feed on honeydew excreted by phloem-feeding insects and, in exchange, attack the phloem feeders' natural enemies, including parasitic wasps. However, parasitic wasps are under selection to exploit information on hazards and avoid them. Here, we tested whether parasitic wasps detect the previous presence of ants attending colonies of phloem feeders. Behavioural assays demonstrate that wasps left colonies previously attended by ants more frequently than control colonies. This behaviour has a potential cost for the parasitic wasp as females inserted their ovipositor in fewer hosts per colony. In a further bioassay, wasps spent less time on papers impregnated with extracts of the ant cues than on control papers. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated that ants left a blend of cuticular hydrocarbons when they attended colonies of phloem feeders. These cuticular hydrocarbons are deposited passively when ants search for food. Overall, these results suggest, for the first time, that parasitic wasps of honeydew producers detect the previous presence of mutualistic ants through contact infochemicals. We anticipate such interactions to be widespread and to have implications in numerous ecosystems, as phloem feeders are usually tended by ants.

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