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Testing the signal value of clypeal black patterning in an Italian population of the paper wasp Polistes dominula

Insectes Sociaux volume 65, pages 161–169 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

In recent years, a number of studies have suggested that visual status signaling operates in social wasps. In the paper wasp Polistes dominula, status is thought to be signaled by a region of black pigmentation on the yellow clypeus. Specifically, studies of the invasive North American population have indicated that the clypeal patterning of P. dominula females conveys information on their agonistic abilities in various natural contexts such as dominance within the nest and competitive interactions. However, studies of native European populations have, so far, failed in demonstrating such a function of the clypeal patterning. The present work investigated the status signaling in an Italian population of this species, eliminating any chemical and behavioral factors of the signaler and controlling for signaler size, therefore, focusing on visual stimulus alone. Using tightly controlled laboratory settings, we performed two bioassays representing two distinct natural contexts: a competitive interaction over food resources and a nest defense scenario. To this end: (1) we offered to future foundresses food patches guarded by two odorless conspecific lures differing only in visual facial cues and (2) we presented odorless wasp lures with a different clypeal patterning to solitary foundresses defending their own nest. We found no evidence for any role of the clypeal patterning in the rival assessment in both contexts. Hence, we conclude that P. dominula foundresses belonging to the Italian population lack visual status signaling on their clypeus. Further studies will elucidate factors and mechanisms underlying the geographical variation and evolution of visual signals in paper wasps.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the members of “Gruppo Vespe” laboratory for logistical support during the experiment and for useful discussions. We are particularly grateful to Alessandro Cini for critical reading of an earlier draft of the manuscript and for his helpful suggestions and comments, and Steve Decina and Peter Buston for proofreading the final draft of the manuscript. Finally, we would like to thank two anonymous referees for valuable comments that greatly improved the manuscript. Research was supported by funds from the University of Florence (to RC).

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Author notes

  1. R. Branconi and D. Baracchi contributed equally.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    R. Branconi, D. Baracchi, S. Turillazzi & R. Cervo

  2. Research Center on Animal Cognition, Center for Integrative Biology, CNRS, University of Toulouse, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062, Toulouse Cedex 09, France

    D. Baracchi

  3. Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Mall, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    R. Branconi

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  1. R. Branconi
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  2. D. Baracchi
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  3. S. Turillazzi
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  4. R. Cervo
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Correspondence to R. Branconi.

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Branconi, R., Baracchi, D., Turillazzi, S. et al. Testing the signal value of clypeal black patterning in an Italian population of the paper wasp Polistes dominula . Insect. Soc. 65, 161–169 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-017-0598-z

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Keywords

  • Cognitive abilities
  • Social wasps
  • Status badge
  • Visual communication
  • Visual signals