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Vibratory signals predict rank and offspring caste ratio in a social insect

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Abstract

In complex societies, communication signals function as fine tools for regulating social structure and coordinating activities, while enabling groups to adjust their strategies flexibly in response to ecological conditions. Social wasps of the genus Polistes perform vibratory movements, which are expressed by dominant individuals mainly during adult-larva feeding interactions. Recent investigations have hypothesized that these signals may influence caste differentiation during larval development. We tested this hypothesis by conducting behavioural observations in the field, in three populations of social wasps (Polistes biglumis) differing in caste ratio: In some populations, foundresses produce workers and future reproductives; in others, workers are rarely produced. We observed that only foundresses produced vibratory signals, which were expressed during larval feeding sessions and only in the period before offspring emergence. Foundresses belonging to populations with workers spent more time producing vibratory signals than those from populations where workers are rare. In some populations, social parasites invaded colonies and subdued host foundresses. Subdued foundresses produced fewer vibratory signals than foundresses of unparasitized colonies. Our data suggest that the dominant status is necessary for the expression of vibratory signals and show that foundresses from different populations produced different numbers of vibratory signals. This difference can be explained well by the hypothesis that vibratory signals influence larval development and promote the production of workers. We suggest that these signals may have been the target of selective forces, in order to regulate caste ratio and maximize colony fitness under local conditions.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the several students that helped with data collection in the field. We are particularly thankful to Alessia Uboni and Riccardo Pansini for the constructive discussion and helpful comments on previous drafts of this manuscript. We are very grateful to Dr. Vittorio Ducoli, former Director of the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, and to Dr. Cinzia Sulli, Servizio Scientifico Ambientale of the Parco Nazionale d’Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise, for permission to work in the park. Funding was obtained from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) (ex 60 % to M. C. L.).

Compliance with ethical standards

MM declares that he has no conflict of interest. MCL declares that she has no conflict of interest. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy

    Michele Mignini & Maria Cristina Lorenzi

  2. LEEC-Laboratoire d’Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 99 venue J.-B. Clément, 93430, Villetaneuse, France

    Maria Cristina Lorenzi

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  1. Michele Mignini
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Correspondence to Michele Mignini.

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Communicated by W. T. Wcislo

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Mignini, M., Lorenzi, M.C. Vibratory signals predict rank and offspring caste ratio in a social insect. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 69, 1739–1748 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-015-1986-x

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