Abstract
Social wasps build their nests using plant material and can thereby occupy different types of habitats. The organization of their colonies is generally based on complex communication systems that include chemical compounds of the cuticle that are shared with the material of their nests thus contributing to the specific chemical signature of their colony. These compounds can vary by environmental factors, in this case the nesting substrate may interfere with this composition. However, no study to date has investigated whether there is any relationship between the chemical signature of the colony and the nesting substrate of their nests. Therefore, in this study we investigated the relationship between the colonial chemical signature and the plant in which the colonies were nesting. Colonies of three species of social wasps and samples of plants where they nested were collected, then extractions of the chemical composition of adult wasps, nest material and plants were performed. The results show that the colonies of social wasps investigated here share their chemical composition with the plants where their nests were built. Our results suggest that the plant can provide the colony with more than just a place with ideal physical conditions and safety, but also compounds that compose the colonial chemical signature.
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Availability of data and material
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
This study was partially funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brazil (CAPES)—funding code 001. In addition to Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), Financiadora de Inovação e Pesquisas (FINEP), Programa Institucional de Bolsas aos Alunos de Pós-graduação (PIBAP/UEMS), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (concession number 311975/2018-6 CALC), (concession number 308182/2019-7 WFAJ). We are especially grateful to Vivian Izidoro Akamine (in memoriam) for her help in processing data from this study, which has always graced us with her serenity, commitment and dedication.
Funding
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brazil (CAPES)—funding code 001. In addition to Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), Financiadora de Inovação e Pesquisas (FINEP), Programa Institucional de Bolsas aos Alunos de Pós-graduação (PIBAP/UEMS), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) (concession number 311975/2018–6 CALC), (concession number 308182/2019–7 WFAJ).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by DSA, KBM, ERPS, NRB, SELJ, VdOT and CALC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by DSA and WFAJ and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Communicated by Günther Raspotnig.
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Supplementary Material 1 (PDF 93 KB) Colonies of Protopolybia exigua, Polybia occidentalis, Polistes versicolor and the plants in which they were nested.
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Supplementary Material 2 (PDF 129 KB) Details of analysis by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and statistical analyses.
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Supplementary Material 3 (PDF 200 KB) Mean as percentage and standard deviation of peaks identified in the nest material, females and nesting substrate, where colonies of Protopolybia exigua, Polybia occidentalis and Polistes versicolor were nested.
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Sguarizi-Antonio, D., Michelutti, K.B., Soares, E.R.P. et al. Colonial chemical signature of social wasps and their nesting substrates. Chemoecology 32, 41–47 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-021-00361-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00049-021-00361-5