EFFECTS OF COLONY DIVISION ON FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS IN POLISTES FUSCATUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Abstract

Three colonies of Polistes fuscatus (Fabricius), each with two foundresses, were bisected during the pre-emergence stage and separated for 20 days. In the absence of the dominant, each subordinate foundrss became an egg-laying queen on her half of the nest. The dominant foundress did not exhibit superior reproductive productivity. The split colonies were reunited by placing the nests approximately 4.0 cm apart in a single nest box. Each foundress and all workers were observed tending both half-colonies, and the original dominance hierarchy was apparently restored in two of the three colonies.