COLD-HARDINESS IN FALL AND WINTER ADULTS OF THE SOCIAL WASP POLISTES FUSCATUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE) IN SOUTHERN ONTARIO

1976 ◽  
Vol 108 (8) ◽  
pp. 801-806 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Gibo
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
Female Population ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
The Social ◽  
Adult Insect ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Cold Hardy

AbstractCold-hardiness was investigated in fall and winter populations of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius), Individuals collected in the fall were able to survive 48 h at −10 °C. Both sexes were equally capable of surviving −5 °C. However, at −7.5 °C and −10.0 °C, females were more cold-hardy than males. About 50% of the overwintering female population were able to survive temperatures as low as −20 °C and monthly temperature fluctuations as great as 30 °C. None of the overwintering females was able to survive 48 h of −25 °C. Adult females of P. fuscatus are able to survive a winter temperature regime that, because of a combination of large fluctuations and low temperatures, is among the most severe reported for any adult insect.

Flower cold hardiness: a potential determinant of the flowering sequence exhibited by bog ericads

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (9) ◽  
pp. 997-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Reader
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Vaccinium Macrocarpon ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Insect Pollinators ◽  
Cold Hardy ◽  
Vaccinium Myrtilloides ◽  
Potential Determinant ◽  
Ledum Groenlandicum

In laboratory freezing trials, cold hardiness of six types of bog ericad flowers differed significantly (i.e., Chamaedaphne calyculata > Andromeda glaucophylla > Kalmia polifolia > Vaccinium myrtilloides > Ledum groenlandicum > Vaccinium macrocarpon) at air temperatures between −4 and −10 °C but not at temperatures above −2 °C. At the Luther Marsh bog in southern Ontario, low temperatures (−3 to −7 °C) would select against May flowering by the least cold hardy ericads. Availability of pollinators, on the other hand, would encourage May flowering by the most cold hardy species. Presumably, competition for insect pollinators has promoted the diversification of bog ericad flowering peaks, while air temperature, in conjunction with flower cold hardiness, determined the order in which flowering peaks were reached.

The timing of conflict and cooperation among cofoundresses of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J. Gamboa ◽  
Katherine A. Stump
Keyword(s):  
Social Wasp ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
Conflict And Cooperation ◽  
Colony Cycle ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Ecological Pressure ◽  
Temporal Overlap

Field observations were made on 37 preworker, multiple-foundress colonies of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus. In total, 401.9 h of behavioural observations of cofoundresses were conducted at three different periods prior to the emergence of workers. Cofoundresses displayed a marked, significant increase in aggression at about the time in the colony cycle when reproductive-destined eggs began to be laid. Both queens and their subordinates became increasingly aggressive at this time. These empirical results support theoretical predictions that conflict among cofoundresses would intensify over the production of reproductive-destined (but not worker-destined) eggs. Cooperation in foraging to minimize nest inattendance as well as synchronicity (temporal overlap) in activity also increased significantly at the onset of the production of reproductive-destined eggs. Thus, conflict and cooperation are not necessarily antagonistic in P. fuscatus. Foundresses minimized the time that nests are unattended at a time in the colony cycle when most conspecific usurpations occur. This suggests that the ecological pressure of conspecific usurpation has favoured increased coordination in foraging to minimize the time nests are unattended. The adaptive significance, if any, of an increase in synchronicity of activity among cofoundresses at the onset of the production of reproductives is not obvious.

The disappearance of subordinate foundresses in paper wasps: eviction by nestmates or reproductive strategy?

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 1928-1933 ◽  
Author(s):  
George J Gamboa ◽  
Janet L Savoyard ◽  
Laura M Panek
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Strategy ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Paper Wasps ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
Colony Cycle ◽  
The Social ◽  
Behavioural Evidence ◽  
Related Mortality

Videotaped observations (371.3 h) were conducted in 1995, 1996, and 1997 on 50 multiple-foundress colonies of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus. Observations were made during the mid-preworker, late-preworker, and early-postworker stages of the colony cycle. The vast majority of lost subordinate cofoundresses (62 of 77) disappeared during the time interval from 2 weeks before to 4 weeks after the emergence of the first workers. The loss of subordinates did not appear to be the result of senescence or foraging-related mortality. Lost subordinates were from productive and presumably healthy colonies. In colonies containing two or more subordinates, lost subordinates had significantly greater dominance ranks than expected. There was no behavioural evidence that lost subordinates were evicted from their colony by queens, other subordinate foundresses, or workers. Lost subordinates were not observed to renest, join sister colonies, or adopt orphaned nests. Our results indicate that lost subordinates leave colonies of their own volition. Indirect evidence from other studies suggests that subordinates may disperse and usurp colonies from other sites.

Winter Bud Cold-hardiness of Interstem Peach Trees

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 541e-541
Author(s):  
Gregory L. Reighard ◽  
David R. Ouellette
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Cold Injury ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Varietal Differences ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Cold Hardy ◽  
Peach Trees ◽  
Chronic Problem

Large fluctuations in annual peach production is a chronic problem in the southeastern United States. Winter and spring cold injury to flowers reduces the potential peach crop almost every year in the Southeast. A bloom delaying peach interstem has consistently delayed phenology in the Southeast, but its effect on bud hardiness is unknown. Nine varieties (650–1050 chill hours) budded to `Ta Tao 5' (P.I. 101667) interstems on Lovell rootstock or budded to only Lovell rootstock (i.e., controls) were sampled monthly from November or December to late February in 1996–97 and 1997–98 from an interstem test established in 1993 near Clemson, S.C. High-chill varieties such as `Contender', `Encore', and `Redhaven' were 1 to 2 °C more cold-hardy on interstem trees in late winter. General trends showed that varieties were slightly more cold-hardy on interstems in 1996–97, but no differences were observed from Nov.1997 through early Jan. 1998. Significant varietal differences in cold-hardiness were found on each sampling date, but no trends were observed.

The communicative meaning of body oscillations in the social wasp, Polistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

1998 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Savoyard ◽  
G. J. Gamboa ◽  
D. L. D. Cummings ◽  
R. L. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Social Wasp ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
The Social

A LABORATORY STUDY ON THE SELECTIVE ADVANTAGE OF FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS IN POLISTES FUSCATUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

1974 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Gibo
Keyword(s):  
Selective Advantage ◽  
Social Wasp ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Polistes Fuscatus ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
The Social ◽  
Single Foundress

AbstractOverwintering adults of the social wasp Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius) were collected in the early spring and placed in nest boxes under controlled conditions. Colonies were initiated, and one-, two-, and three-foundress associations were formed. Successful single-foundress colonies were similar to successful multiple-foundress colonies in developmental time for immatures, nest size, and total production of offspring. Multiple-foundress colonies were more likely to produce offspring than were single-foundress colonies. Half of the foundress wasps failed to reproduce, either because the colony failed or because they were non-reproductive subordinates. Apparently, wasps that were likely to fail at reproduction tended to join colonies rather than to initiate colonies. The relevance of this data to hypotheses on the selective advantage of foundress associations is discussed.

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