Linear Alkanes and Reproductive Status of Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Females in Winter Aggregates

Authors

  • Jane Herondi dos Santos Brito Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • William Fernando Antonialli-Junior Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Thiago dos Santos Montagna Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados
  • Angélica Mendonça Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados
  • Denise Sguarizi-Antonio Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Yzél Rondon Súarez Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Sandro Marcio Lima Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Luis Humberto da Cunha Andrade Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul
  • Claudia Andrea Lima Cardoso Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i3.1039

Keywords:

Social insects, cuticular compounds, chemical signature

Abstract

Female wasps such as Polistes versicolor can form aggregates to face weather conditions that are not suitable to sustain their colonies. The interactions between individuals in these aggregates, just as in other associations, are probably facilitated by chemical signals. Of these compounds some of the most efficient during social interactions of insects are those called contact pheromones or superficial pheromones. This special type of pheromones, known as cuticular hydrocarbons, can be found in insects cuticle. They facilitate the differentiation of caste, species and nestmates, and may be important indicators of dominance as well as fertility. Some studies indicate that linear alkanes are important cuticular compounds for intraspecific recognition and discrimination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between reproductive physiologic condition and the linear alkanes present in the cuticle of females of P. versicolor in aggregates employing Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Females from distinct aggregates were differentiated by the chemical composition of their cuticle. In each aggregate, there was difference in cuticular chemical composition between females with different ovarian development degrees, allowing the distinction between inseminated and non-inseminated females.

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References

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Published

2017-10-17

How to Cite

Brito, J. H. dos S., Antonialli-Junior, W. F., Montagna, T. dos S., Mendonça, A., Sguarizi-Antonio, D., Súarez, Y. R., Lima, S. M., Andrade, L. H. da C., & Cardoso, C. A. L. (2017). Linear Alkanes and Reproductive Status of Polistes versicolor (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Females in Winter Aggregates. Sociobiology, 64(3), 327–333. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v64i3.1039

Issue

Vol. 64 No. 3 (2017)

Section

Research Article - Wasps

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