Vespula Wasps

Vespidae. Al though the role of CHCs as recognition cues has been intensively studied in a dozen Polistes wasp species (Bonavita-Cougourdan et al., 1991 Lorenzi et al., 1996, 1997 Bagneres et al., 1996a Dani, 2006), as well as in the Vespula wasp (Butts et al., 1993), chemotaxonomy based on venom volatile chemical profiles was reported recently (Bruschini et al., 2007). There is currently no review paper comparing CHCs from the different social wasps studied. 

WOOD, M.J., RATNIEKS, F.L.W., Olfactory cues and Vespula wasp recognition by honey bee guards. ApidoL, 2004, 35, 461-468. 

Fig. 2. Species of Hymenoptera responsible for systemic allergic reactions (a) honey bee A. mellif-era), (b) bumble bee (Bombus spp.j, (c) wasp, in the USA yellow jacket (Vespula spp.j, (d) European paper wasp (P. gallicus), (e) European hornet (V. crabro), and (f) Australian jack jumper ant (M. pilo-sula) [by courtesy of Dr. S.G. Brown, Perth, Australia]. 

Figure 7 Venomous hymenoptera insects, (a) Common honeybee (Apis me/Z/fera) (b), eastern yellowjacket Vespula maculifrons)-, (c) European hornet (Vespa crabro), (d) bull ant (Myrmecia esuriens)-, (e) Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica,)] (f) wasp stinger. Photos from (a) to (f) by Autan (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License), E. Begin (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License), N. Jones (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License), Nuytsia (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License), Netman (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike License), and M. Halldin (GNU free documentation license), respectively.

The venoms of many kinds of bees, wasps, and hornets (the genera Vespa, Polistes, Vespula, Ropalidia, etc.) contain biogenic amines such as histamine (136), serotonin (141), and catecholamines in addition to polyamines such as putrescine (111), spermidine (110), and spermine (112) (Table VIII). The biogenic amines in the venoms act as the main pain-producing principles 46). The contents of these amines in the venom may affect the severity of pain production, edematous reaction of the skin, or increase in skin permeability by stings of these insects. Consequently these amines act as toxins for their defense, together with acetylcholine, enzymes, and peptides 47). 

Sagara, N. and Kobayashi, T. (1979). Hebeloma spoliatum appeared from abandoned nest-chambers of Vespula lewisi, a ground wasp. Trans. Mycol. Soc. Japan 20, 266-267 (in Japanese). 

Butts, D. R, Espelie, K.E. and Hermann, H.R. (1991). Cuticular hydrocarbons of four species of social wasps in the subfamily vespinae Vespa crabro (L.), Dolichovespula maculata (L.), Vespula squamosa (Drury), and Vespula maculifrons (Buysson). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. B, 99, 87-91. 

Helantera, H., Tofilski, A., Wenseleers, T. and Ratnieks, F. L. W. (2006). Worker policing in the common wasp Vespula vulgaris is not aimed at improving colony hygiene. Insect Soc., 53, 399-402. 

Chalcid wasp, Hemadas nubilpennis, 332 Common wasp, Vespula vulgaris, 797 German wasp, Vespula germanica, 797 Weevil... 

Struct, of the peptide moeity shown. Isol. from the wasp Vespula analis. Shows oxytocic activity. 

Butler, C. G., Fletcher, D. J. C. and Watler, D. (1969) Nest-entrance marking with pheromones by the honeybee Apis mellifera L., and by a wasp, Vespula vulgaris L. Anim. Behav., 17, 142-7. 

Figure 20. Thermogram of the nest envelope of the wasp Vespula vulgaris. All three exothermic peaks are typical for envelopes but vary in their relative height and temperature within a nest and between nests of different origins and years [120],...

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