The Disappearance of Eggs and Larvae from the Nests of the Mischocyttarus (Monogynoecus) montei Zikán (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Especially in Autumn and Winter: Can it Mean an Adaptive Cannibalism to Ensure the Survival of Colonies?

Authors

  • André Sunao Nishiuchi Murakami UNESP - Rio Claro
  • Sheila Tiemi Sakamoto
  • Sulene Noriko Shima UNESP - Rio Claro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v63i1.879

Keywords:

food, brood, intraspecific predation, season, Mischocyttarini

Abstract

The aim of this study was to verify the disappearance of eggs and larvae from the nests of the Mischocyttarus (Monogynoecus) montei, especially in autumn and winter, and at the same time, to discuss about the cannibalism as the main reason for survival of the colonies during the unfavorable climatic conditions. Forty one colonies were studied during the seasons of the year, period from March in 1999 to September 2000. A total of 314 disappearances of immature individuals was counted, corresponding to 95 eggs (27,1 %) and 229 larvae (72,9 %). The results of Chi-Square test for Contingency tables showed that the disappearance of eggs and larvae were significantly higher (P < 0,05)  during the autumn and winter (x2egg= 14,53, G.L.egg= 3, Cegg= 0,38, x2larva= 443,15, G.L.larva= 3, Clarva= 0,81). In addition, the Spearman Correlation test revealed a significant negative correlation (P < 0,05) between the disappearance rate of larvae and fall in temperature (r = ­0,62), as well as between the rate and fall in rainfall (r= ­0,71), in autumn and winter. There were no significant correlation between the disappearance of eggs and any climatic factors. From total number of disappearances, small larvae disappeared from the cells at higher frequency (55,9%, n = 128) than medium (18,3%, n = 42) and large (25,8%, n = 49) size larvae. We suggest that these immatures (eggs and larvae) were cannibalized probably due to scarcity of prey and nectar under unfavorable climatic conditions, especially during the cold and dry periods of the year.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Carpenter, J.M. (1993). Biogeographic patterns in the Vespidae (Hymenoptera): two views of Africa and South America. In P. Goldblatt (Eds.) Biological relationships between Africa and South America (pp.139-155). New Haven and London, Yale University Press, 648p.

Clouse, R.M. (1995). Nest usurpation and intercolonial cannibalism in Mischocyttarus mexicanus (Hymenoptera:Vespidae. J. Kans. Entomol. Soc., 68: 67-73.

Costa-Filho, V.C., Shima, S.N., Desuó, I.C., Murakami, A.S.N. (2011). The effects of the social hierarchy destabilization on the foraging activity of eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus styx Richards 1940 (Hymenoptera,Vespidae, Polistinae). Psyche, 2011: 1-8.

Cowan, D.P. (1991). The solitary and presocial Vespidae. In K.G. Ross & R.W. Matthews (Eds.) The social biology of wasps (pp.36-69). Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, London. 678p.

Deleurance, E.P. (1963). Sur le mécanisme de l’oophagie différentielle chez la guêpe Polistes gallicus (Hymenoptera,Vespidae). Acd. Sci. Paris. 257: 2339-2340.

Fox, L.R. (1975). Cannibalism in natural populations. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 6: 87-106.

Gervet, J. (1964). Le comportement d’oophagie differentielle chez Polistes gallicus L. (Hyménoptere, Vespidae). Insectes Soc., 11: 343-382.

Giannotti, E. (1994). Notes on the biology of Polistes simillimus Zikán (Hymenoptera,Vespidae). Bioikos, 8: 41-49.

Giannotti, E. (1999). Social organization of the eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus styx (Hymenoptera,Vespidae). Sociobiology, 33: 325-338.

Giannotti E., Machado, V.L.L. (1999). Colonial phenology of Polistes lanio lanio (Fabricius 1775) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol., 38: 18-44.

Hunt, J.H. (1991). Nourishment and the evolution of the social Vespidae. In K.G. Ross & R.W. Matthews (Eds.) The Social Biology of Wasps (p.426-450). Comstock Publishing Associates, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, London. 678p.

Jeanne, R.L. (1972). Social biology of the Neotropical wasp Mischocyttarus drewseni. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., 144: 63-150.

Jeanne, R.L. (1980). Evolution of social behavior in the Vespidae. Annu. Rev. Entomol., 25: 371-396.

Kudô, K., Shirai, A. (2012). Effect of food availability on larval cannibalism by foundresses of the paper wasp Polistes chinensis antennalis. Insectes Soc., 59: 279-284. doi: 10.1007/s00040-011-0217-3

Litte, M. (1977). Behavioral ecology of the social wasps, Mischocyttarus mexicanus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 2: 229-246.

Mead, F., Habersetzer, C., Gabouriaut, D., Gervet, J. (1994). Dynamics of colony development in the paper wasp Polistes dominulus Christ (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): the influence of prey availability. J. Ethol., 12: 43-51.

Murakami, A.S.N., Shima, S.N. (2006). Nutritional and social hierarchy establishment of the primitively eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Mischocyttarini) and related aspects. Sociobiology, 48: 183-207.

Murakami, A.S.N., Shima, S.N., Desuó, I.C. (2009). More than one inseminated female in colonies of the independent-founding wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga Von Ihering (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol., 53: 653-662.

Murakami, A.S.N., Shima, S.N. (2010). Regulation of social hierarchy over time in colonies of the primitive eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus (Monocyttarus) cassununga, Von Ihering 1903 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). J. Kans. Entomol. Soc., 83: 163-171.

Murakami A.S.N., Shima, S.N., Desuó, I.C. (2013). Division of labor in stable social hierarchy of the independent-founding wasp Mischocyttarus (Monocyttarus) cassununga Von Ihering (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Sociobiology, 60: 114-122.

Noda, S.C.M., Silva, R.E., Giannotti, E. (2001). Dominance hierarchy in different stages of development in colonies of the primitively eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cerberus styx (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) Sociobiology, 38: 603-614.

Oliveira, V.C., Desuó, I.C., Murakami, A.S.N., Shima, S.N. (2012). Dominance and subordination interactions among nestmates in pré- and post-emergence phases of the basal eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus (Monogynoecus) montei (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Sociobiology, 59: 999-1013.

Polis, G.A. (1981). The evolution and systematic of intraespecific predation. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst., 12: 225-251.

Prezoto, F., Vilela, A.P.P., Lima, M.A.P., D’avilla, S., Sinzato, D.M.S., Andrade, F.R., Santos-Prezoto, H.H., Giannotti, E. (2004). Dominance hierarchy in different stages of development in colonies of the primitively eusocial wasp Mischocyttarus cassununga (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Sociobiology, 41: 379-390.

Richards, O.W. (1971). The biology of the social wasp (Hymenoptera,vespidae). Biol. Rev., 46: 483-528.

Richards, O.W. (1978). The social wasps of America excluding the Vespinae. British Museum (natural History), London 580p.

Silveira, O.T. (2008). Phylogeny of wasps of the genus Mischocyttarus de Saussure (Hymenoptera,Vespidae,Polistinae). Rev. Bras. Entomol., 52: 510-549.

Tannure-Cunha, I., Nascimento, F.S. (1999) Influência do conflito de dominância entre fundadoras em colônias de vespas sociais pertencentes ao gênero Polistes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Rev. Bras. Zoociênc., 1(1): 31-40.

Torres, V.O., Antonialli-Júnior, W.F., Giannotti, E. (2009). Divisão de trabalho em colônias da vespa social neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis Linnaeus (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol., 53: 593-599.

West-Eberhard, M.J. (1969). The social biology of Polistine wasps. Misc. Publ. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich., 140: 1-101.

West-Eberhard, M.J. (1982). The nature and evolution of swarming in tropical social wasps (Vespidae,Polistinae, Polybiini). In S. Turillazzi & M.J. West-Eberhard (Eds.). Social Insects of the Tropics (pp. 97-128). Paris - Universite de Paris-Nord.

Zara, J.F., Balestieri, J.B.P. (2000). Behavioural catalogue of Polistes versicolor Olivier (Vespidae: Polistinae) post-emergence colonies. Naturalia, 25: 301-319.

Zar, J.H. (1999). Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall. New Jersey. Fourth Edition. 663p.

Downloads

Published

2016-04-29

How to Cite

Murakami, A. S. N., Sakamoto, S. T., & Shima, S. N. (2016). The Disappearance of Eggs and Larvae from the Nests of the Mischocyttarus (Monogynoecus) montei Zikán (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Especially in Autumn and Winter: Can it Mean an Adaptive Cannibalism to Ensure the Survival of Colonies?. Sociobiology, 63(1), 699–704. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v63i1.879

Issue

Section

Research Article - Wasps