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Social Structures and Conflict Resolution in Primitively Eusocial Polistes Wasps

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From Genes to Animal Behavior

Part of the book series: Primatology Monographs ((PrimMono))

Abstract

The theory of kin selection (Hamilton 1964a, b) explains the evolution of helping behavior among relatives (see Chap.  3), but it also predicts several conflicts among relatives. First, individuals belonging to the same generation compete over resources. For example, several foundresses can compete with one another upon colony founding. Second, queen(s) and daughter workers belonging to different generations compete over the sex ratio. Third, queen(s) and workers compete over male parentage. The second and third conflicts are expected when the relatedness between interacting providers and recipients of altruism differs among kin groups.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Dr. J. Takahashi for sharing his unpublished data and Dr. S. J. Martin for a critical reading of an earlier version of this manuscript. Mr. K. Yamasaki and Mr. T. Saigo kindly provided illustrations.

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  1. Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan

    Koji Tsuchida

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Tsuchida, K. (2011). Social Structures and Conflict Resolution in Primitively Eusocial Polistes Wasps. In: Inoue-Murayama, M., Kawamura, S., Weiss, A. (eds) From Genes to Animal Behavior. Primatology Monographs. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-53892-9_4

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