Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Workers and queens of the European hornetVespa crabro L. have colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbon profiles (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

  • Research Articles
  • Published:
Insectes Sociaux Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from sixty individual workers from six colonies ofVespa crabro L. and analyzed by combined gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry. Discriminant analysis of the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of workers and queens showed that the wasps could be grouped by colony and by caste. Stepwise discriminant analysis selected the components which were weighted most heavily in these analyses. Different combinations of cuticular hydrocarbons were important in grouping workers by colony, queens and workers by colony, and workers and queens by caste.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akre, R. D. and H. C. Reed, 1984. Vespine defense. In:Defensive Mechanisms in Social Insects (H. R. Hermann (Ed.)), Praeger Publishers, New York. pp. 59–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G. J. and J. W. Dillwith, 1985. Cuticular lipids. In:Comprehensive Insect Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Vol. 3. Integument, Respiration and Circulation (G. A. Kerkut and L. I. Gilbert (Eds.)), Pergamon, Oxford, U.K. pp. 117–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blomquist, G. J., D. R. Nelson and M. de Renobales, 1987. Chemistry, biochemistry, and physiology of insect cuticular lipids.Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 6:227–265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., J. L. Clément and C. Lange, 1987. Nestmate recognition: the role of cuticular hydrocarbons in the antCamponotus vagus Scop.J. Entomol. Sci. 22:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonavita-Cougourdan, A., G. Theraulaz, A. G. Bagnères, M. Roux, M. Pratte, E. Provost and J.-L. Clément, 1991. Cuticular hydrocarbons, social organization and ovarian development in a Polistine wasp:Polistes dominulus Christ.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 100B:667–680.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breed, M. D. and G. E. Julian, 1992. Do simple rules apply in honey-bee nestmate discrimination?Nature 357:685–686.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brill, J. H., T. Mar, H. T. Mayfield and W. Bertsch, 1986. Application of computer-based pattern recognition procedures in the study of biological samples. Comparison of the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of different colonies of the black imported fire ant.Analyst 111:711–716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, C. G., D. J. C. Fletcher and D. Watler, 1969. Nest-entrance marking with pheromones by the honeybee,Apis mellifera L., and by a wasp,Vespula vulgaris L.Anim. Behav. 17:142–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butts, D. P., M. A. Camann and K. E. Espelie, 1993. Discriminant analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons of the baldfaced hornet,Dolichovespula maculata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Sociobiology 21:193–201.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E. and E. A. Bernays, 1989. Diet-related differences in the cuticular lipids ofManduca sexta larvae.J. Chem. Ecol. 15:2003–2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E., E. A. Bernays and J. J. Brown, 1991. Plant and insect cuticular lipids serve as behavioral cues for insects.Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 17:223–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E., G. J. Gamboa, T. A. Grudzien and E. A. Bura, 1994. Cuticular hydrocarbons of the paper wasp,Polistes fuscatus: a search for recognition pheromones.J. Chem. Ecol. 20:1677–1687.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E. and H. R. Hermann, 1988. Congruent cuticular hydrocarbons: biochemical convergence of a social wasp, an ant and a host plant.Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 16:233–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E. and H. R. Hermann, 1990. Suface lipids of the social waspPolistes annularis (L.) and its nest and nest pedicel.J. Chem. Ecol. 16:1841–1852.

    Google Scholar 

  • Espelie, K. E., J. W. Wenzel and G. Chang, 1990. Surface lipids of social waspPolistes metricus Say and its nest and nest pedicel and their relation to nestmate recognition.J. Chem. Ecol. 16:2229–2241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, I. D., G. J. Gamboa and J. K. Jones, 1987. Discrimination between natal and non-natal nests by the social waspsDolichovespula maculata andPolistes fuscatus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 60:65–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gamboa, G. J., H. K. Reeve and D. W. Pfennig, 1986. The evolution and ontogeny of nestmate recognition in social wasps.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 31:431–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz, W. M. and R. E. Page Jr., 1991. Chemosensory kin-communication systems and kin recognition in honey bees.Ethology 87:298–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadley, N. F., 1985.The Adaptive Role of Lipids in Biological Systems, Wiley-Interscience, New York, 319 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W., 1993. Cuticular hydrocarbons and chemical communication. In:Insect Lipids. Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biology (D. W. Stanley-Samuelson and D. R. Nelson, Eds.), University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, Nebraska, pp. 179–226.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W. and G. J. Blomquist, 1982. Chemical ecology and biochemistry of insect hydrocarbons.Annu. Rev. Entomol. 27:149–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W., R. D. Akre and W. B. Garnett, 1990. Chemical mimicry in an obligate predator of carpenter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 83:607–616.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W., C. A. McDaniel and G. J. Blomquist, 1980. Chemical mimicry as an integrating mechanism: cuticular hydrocarbons of a termitophile and its host.Science 210:431–433.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. W., C. A. McDaniel, D. R. Nelson, G. J. Blomquist, L. T. Gelbaum and L. H. Zalkow, 1982. Cuticular hydrocarbons ofReticulitermes virginicus (Banks) and their role as potential species- and caste recognition cues.J. Chem. Ecol. 8:1227–1239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaisson, P., 1991. Kinship and fellowship in ants and social wasps. In:Kin Recognition (P. G. Hepper (Ed.)), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K. pp. 60–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachenbruch, P. A., 1975.Discriminant Analysis, Hafner Press, New York, 127 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Layton, J. M., M. A. Camann and K. E. Espelie, 1994. Cuticular lipid profiles of queens, workers and males of the social waspPolistes metricus Say are colony-specific,J. Chem. Ecol. 20:2307–2321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Layton, J. M. and K. E. Espelie, 1994. Effects of nest paper hydrocarbons on nest and nestmate recognition in colonies ofPolistes metricus Say.J. Insect Behav. (in press).

  • Lockey, K. H., 1988. Lipids of the insect cuticle: origin, composition and function.Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 89B:595–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenzi, M. C., 1992. Epicuticular hydrocarbons ofPolistes biglumis bimaculatus (Hymenoptera Vespidae): preliminary results.Ethol. Ecol. Evol. 2:61–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura, M., 1991.Vespa andProvespa. In:The Social Biology of Wasps (K. G. Ross and R. W. Matthews (Eds.)), Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. pp. 232–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, D. R., 1978. Long-chain methyl-branched hydrocarbons: occurrence, biosynthesis and function.Adv. Insect Physiol. 13:1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross, K. G., 1983. Laboratory studies of the mating biology of the eastern yellowjacket,Vespula maculifrons (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).J. Kansas Entomol. Soc. 56:523–537.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. E., T. J. Cornell and G. J. Gamboa, 1985. Nestmate recognition in the bald-faced hornet,Dolichovespula maculata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).Z. Tierpsychol. 69:19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute, Inc., 1985.SAS User's Guide: Statistics, Version 5 Edition. SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, T. L. and K. E. Espelie, 1992. Social wasps use nest paper hydrocarbons for nestmate recognition.Anim. Behav. 44:63–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singer, T. L. M. A. Camann and K. E. Espelie, 1992. Discriminant analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons of social waspPolistes exclamans Viereck and surface hydrocarbons of its nest paper and pedicel.J. Chem. Ecol. 18:785–797.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, B. H. and M. D. Breed, 1994. The chemical basis for nestmate recognition and mate discrimination in social insects. In:Chemical Ecology of Insects. II. (R. T. Cardé and W. J. Bell (Eds.)), Chapman and Hall, New York (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Sciences, Inc., 1989.S-plus version 2.2, Release 1 for Sun 4 systems, Statistical Sciences, Inc., Seattle, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Sciences, Inc., 1990.S-plus Reference Manual, Statistical Sciences, Inc., Seattle, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vander Meer, R. K., D. P. Jouvenaz and D. P. Wojcik, 1989a. Chemical mimicry in a parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).J. Chem. Ecol. 15:2247–2261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vander Meer, R. K., D. Saliwaanchik and B. Lavine, 1989b. Temporal changes in colony cuticular hydrocarbon patterns ofSolenopsis invicta: implications for nestmate recognition.J. Chem. Ecol. 15:2115–2125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vander Meer, R. K. and D. P. Wojcik, 1982. Chemical mimicry in the myrmecophilous beetleMyrmecaphodius excavatacollis.Science 218:806–808.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, G., B. R. Wiseman and K. E. Espelie, 1992. Cuticular lipids from silks of seven corn genotypes and their effect on development of corn earworm larvae [Helicoverpa zea (Boddie)].J. Agric. Food Chem. 40:1058–1061.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, Georgia, USA

    D. P. Butts, M. A. Camann & K. E. Espelie

Authors
  1. D. P. Butts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Camann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. E. Espelie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Butts, D.P., Camann, M.A. & Espelie, K.E. Workers and queens of the European hornetVespa crabro L. have colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbon profiles (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Ins. Soc 42, 45–55 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245698

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01245698

Key words

Search

Navigation