COMPARISONS OF BEHAVIORS IN EARLY VS. LATE FOUNDRESS ASSOCIATIONS OF THE PAPER WASP, POLISTES METRICUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Abstract

A significant number of subordinates of the paper wasp Polistes metricus Say are former single foundresses that have had their position usurped by a more dominant foundress. Such a displaced foundress sometimes remains with the usurper as a subordinate. Some usurpers desert larger nests where they were single foundresses to usurp a smaller colony.In early foundress associations (< 14 days old), queens frequently exhibit behaviors that are characteristic of subordinates in mature hierarchies. Early queens spend large proportions of their nest time inactive, adjacent to the nest. They also commonly retreat from approaching subordinates. In contrast early subordinates rarely retreat from queens and spend a large proportion of their nest time on the face of the nest where they are more active than the queen. These behaviors are reversed in more mature colonies with queens spending more time on the nest face and showing increasing activity and aggressive behavior towards subordinates.