Summary
In blind laboratory observations, control gynes (potential queens) of the social waspPolistes fuscatus discriminated nestmate sisters from unrelated, non-nestmate gynes (P=0.009). However, in treatment observations, which were conducted concurrently with control observations, gynes failed to discriminate nestmate sisters from non-nestmate nieces (P>0.4). Furthermore, controls and treatments differed significantly (P<0.05) in the mean tolerance difference between nestmates and non-nestmates. Gynes treated non-nestmates nieces, in terms of mean tolerance, as nestmate sisters suggesting thatP. fuscatus gynes can recognize kin other than nestmates (i.e., nieces), but may not be able to discriminate between sisters and nieces. These results also indicate that the recognition odor ofP. fuscatus has a genetic component. In addition, the results provide additional evidence that increasing similarity between the learned and perceived recognition odors does not result in an additive effect on mean tolerance. This lack of additivity supports the cue similarity threshold recognition model proposed by Gamboa et al. (1986a, b).
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Gamboa, G.J., Klahn, J.E., Parman, A.O. et al. Discrimination between nestmate and non-nestmate kin by social wasps (Polistes fuscatus, Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Behav Ecol Sociobiol 21, 125–128 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395440
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02395440