Polistes dominulus

Polistes dominulus W-CW Nestmate recognition cues 7-Methylnonacosane 73,11-methylnona-cosane 74, (1 lZ)-nonacos-l l-ene 75, (llZ)-hentriacont-ll-ene 76, (9Z)-nonacos-9-ene 77 [116]... 

Workers are often cited as the source of nestmate or kin recognition cues (e.g., [115]). Many GC analysis studies have shown that the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are different between nestmates and non-nestmates. However, only recently have specific hydrocarbons, 7-methylnonacosane 73,11-methyl-nonacosane 74, (llZ)-nonacos-ll-ene 75, (llZ)-hentriacont-ll-ene 76, and (9Z)-nonacos-9-ene 77, been shown to mediate nestmate recognition in the paper wasp, Polistes dominulus [116]. 

Sledge M. F., Boscaro F. and Turillazzi S. (2001) Cuticular hydrocarbons and reproductive status in the social wasp Polistes dominulus. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 49, 401 -09. 

Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., Theraulaz, G., Bagneres, A.-G., Roux, M Pratte, M Provost, E. and Clement, J.-L. (1991). Cuticular hydrocarbons, social organization and ovarian development in a polistine wasp Polistes dominulus Christ. Comp. Biochem. Physiol., 100B, 667-680. 

Lorenzi, M.C., Sledge, M.E, Laiolo, R, Strurlini, E. and Turillazzi, S. (2004). Cuticular hydrocarbon dynamics in young adult Polistes dominulus (Hymenoptera Vespidae) and the role of linear hydrocarbons in nestmate recogniton systems. J. Insect Physiol., 50, 935-941. 

Turillazzi, S. and Pelosi, P. (2003). Soluble proteins of chemical communication in the social wasp Polistes dominulus. Cell. Mol. Life Sci., 60, 1933-1943. 

The differential importance of alkenes, and linear and methyl-branched alkanes in the nestmate recognition system of the paper wasp Polistes dominulus was tested using... 

Starks, P.T., Fischer, D. J., Watson, R.E., Melikian, G.L. and Nath, S.D. (1998). Context-dependent nestmate discrimination in the paper wasp, Polistes dominulus a critical test of the optimal acceptance threshold model. Anim. Behav., 56, 449—158. 

Small paper wasp colonies, as in Polistes dominulus, have the advantage that egg replacement can be easily tracked due to their location in a cell of the comb (Liebig et al., 2005). Replacement of eggs can be identified when an individual lays an egg in a cell in which another individual has already laid an egg. When these cells were controlled later, usually only a single egg was found. 

These similarities are not restricted to ants. So far only one study has looked at the similarities between cuticular and egg profile in wasps. Polistes dominulus eggs contain the same compounds as the cuticle of the adults with only slight proportional differences (Dapporto et al., 2007a). Egg profiles of foundresses ranking at the top of the hierarchy were clearly separated from the egg profiles of lower-ranked individuals. 

It is also important to consider other potential sources that may contribute to the recognition of reproductive individuals. So far, the vast majority of studies indicate a major role for long-chain hydrocarbons, but polar compounds may occasionally be involved as well (Tentschert et al., 2002 Sramkova et al., 2008). These polar compounds may also be of proteinaceous nature. They are found to differ between foundresses in Polistes dominulus (Dapporto et al., 2008). Although polar compounds are involved in the inhibition of ovarian activity in honeybee workers (Hoover et al., 2003) and prevent intracolonial reproduction of new queens in the ant Solenopsis invicta (Vargo, 1997,1998), these findings seem to be exceptions. 

Dapporto, L., Lambardi, D. and Turillazzi, S. (2008). Not only cuticular lipids First evidence of differences between foundresses and their daughters in polar substances in the paper wasp Polistes dominulus. J. Insect Physiol., 54, 89-95. 

Dapporto, L., Theodora, P Spacchini, C., Pieraccini, G. and Turillazzi, S. (2004). Rank and epicuticular hydrocarbons in different populations of the paper wasp Polistes dominulus (Christ) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Insect. Soc., 51, 279-286. 

Plate 16 Two adult wasps o/Polistes dominulus on a newly constructed nest. Their yellow colour is due to xanthopterin. The upper wasp is marking the pedicel of the nest with abdominal secretion (Photo Stefano Turillazzi)... 

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