Polistes dorsalis

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Polistes dorsalis
Hunter's Little Paper Wasp imported from iNaturalist photo 329079900 on 15 July 2024.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Vespidae
Subfamily: Polistinae
Tribe: Polistini
Genus: Polistes
Species:
P. dorsalis
Binomial name
Polistes dorsalis
(Fabricius, 1775)
Map of occurrences of Polistes dorsalis.png
Distribution of P. dorsalis in yellow
Synonyms
  • Vespa dorsalisFabricius, 1775
  • Polistes fuscatus hunteriBequeart, 1940
  • Polistes hunteriBequeart, 1940

Polistes dorsalis is a species of social wasps that can be found throughout various parts of North America. [1] It is classified under the Vespidae within the genus of Polistes. Male Polistes dorsalis wasps can be distinguished from other Polistes species by their distinctly prominent median tubercle of sternum 7. Both sexes can also be recognized due to their v- shaped yellow markings on their head. [2] They are distributed widely across North America and can be found in sheltered nests, typically closer to the ground. [3] These wasps live in a dominance hierarchy in which the queen's role differs from that of ordinary workers. [4] When threatened, these wasps can deliver moderately painful stings. [5] Their venom might also be of human interest for their antimicrobial uses. [6]

Contents

Taxonomy and phylogeny

A member of the Vespidae family, Polistes dorsalis is classified within Polistinae, one of the largest subfamilies consisting of a diverse group of social wasps. Under this subfamily, there are two behavioral groups that differ in their methods of colony formation and the presence of reproductive dominance. The first of these groups form colonies through swarming, as multiple foundresses initiate a nest. On the contrary, Polistes wasps are independent, and a nest is constructed by an individual or by a select number of female wasps. Polistes dorsalis are related to P. fuscatus, P. metrics, and P. carolina. [7] P. dorsalis was formerly known as P. hunteri. [8]

There are five subspecies described: [7]

Description and identification

Polistes dorsalis is one of the smaller species of Polistes wasps. Wasps can have two sets of wings: fore and hind wings. This species of wasp tend to have a fore wing length of around 11–17 mm. [2] The exoskeletal plate is in the shape of a shield and located below its frons, usually black or dark brown in color with a band of yellow. Its sides are also mainly black in color with distinct yellow markings. The elongated segments of its antenna, or flagellomeres that stem from the base, tend to be less tapered and dull orange in color. The abdomen of female Polistes dorsalis can be composed of alternating dull orange, yellow, brown, and black sections. Female Polistes dorsalis have colorings similar to that of P. fuscatus, P. apachus , and P. bellicosus, but can be distinguished from both by looking at femoral markings and differences in the coloring. P. dorsalis tend to be more black and brown in coloring that forms a ring around the femora. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Polistes dorsalis are common to the southeastern region of the United States, as it has been recorded in various states like MA, NY, and FL. [2] This species of wasp are also found to reside throughout North and Central America, for example off the coast of the Bahamas. [1] There have also been groups reported off the coasts of Mexico. [2]

Polistes dorsalis ssp. dorsalis (Least Paper Wasp), Hanover County, VA, USA, 2022 Least Paper Wasp imported from iNaturalist photo 225342455 on 15 July 2024.jpg
Polistes dorsalis ssp. dorsalis (Least Paper Wasp), Hanover County, VA, USA, 2022

It is characteristic for their nests to be constructed in areas that are highly sheltered and inconspicuous, making them harder for predators to find. For this reason, rock piles and hollowed out logs along with other shelters found close to the ground make good building sites for P. dorsalis nests. However, they can also be commonly found in more open field areas. [1] Within urban areas, P. dorsalis have also chosen to build nests within shrubbery and on the lower border of roofs. [2] Nests are generally small and open- faced with no envelope surround the structure. They are typically 1- tiered and can house up to 75 adult wasps. [3]

Colony cycle

Colony initiation

Colony initiation in Polistes wasps usually occurs in the spring. Sometimes a handful of female wasps, otherwise known as foundresses, who have mated start the colony. Together these females will take care of their young in a cooperative manner. In other instances, a single foundress that takes care of a brood consisting of solely her own eggs initiates a nest. [4] Even within a colony of multiple foundresses, the largest of the females tends to quickly assume the role of queen. This foundress then becomes the sole egg layer in the colony. The other foundresses then will become helper subordinates and no longer contribute in reproductive duties. [9]

Colony growth and decline

Early in May, the first of the wasps start to emerge. From the start, they fulfill their role as the workers of the colony. These female wasps take on the role of subordinates. They serve by taking care of the brood, young and old, aiding to everyone in the nest. They do so all the while searching for food to maintain the well being of the colony. [10] These workers will assume this helping duty for their entire life, but in the event that the queen goes missing or dies, a worker will readily assume the queen role. [4] By this time, the queen will also have made an effort to drive off any remaining female foundresses that helped initiate the colony, if applicable. This will make room, enabling newly emerged wasps to contribute to the colony. The colony will start to decline when workers start dying either from old age or due to a drop in brood care. When replacements are no longer emerging, the colony will decrease in numbers until the next reproductive phase. [10]

Behavior

Dominance hierarchy

While there is no distinct morphological caste within Polistes dorsalis colonies, a dominance hierarchy is established which reflects differing behaviors based on the role a wasp plays within the colony. Physically, most females within the colony are able to produce and lay eggs, however, the queen has monopolized this role. [4] A reproductive division of labor has developed, as worker females are either sterile or partly so. In addition to reproductive differences, labor roles can also be established. [3] Roles of P. dorsalis are somewhat fixed as the worker females know to take care of the brood and maintain the colony instead of laying eggs of their own. [11] Sometimes subordinates will also engage in tasks that are higher in risk, like leaving the nest to forage in dangerous environments. They also forage more for nectar and prey hunting whereas the dominant wasp might collect nutrients that are higher in fiber. The queen herself fulfills the role of regulating the work activity of her subordinate wasps. This division of labor might be seems to be a beneficial system to be followed because it increases the efficiency of the hive. [3]

Development of dominance

There might be advantages due to certain wasp groups to having a dominance hierarchy. For one, it is an opportunity for an individual to reap the benefits of obtaining a high rank. For example, the queen wasp is well taken care of by the worker females because they are the subordinates. In addition, establishing a stable structure can lead to reduced costs for within-group conflict. There's also less aggression among members, especially towards the queen, unless a subordinate wasp wants to take over. Even then, this dominance hierarchy will once again be established. [3] Dominance behavior is prevalent during various stages of Polistes dorsalis' colony cycle. In the "founding phase", an individual wasp can start building a colony alone then give rise to her first brood of workers. [4] Then in the "worker phase" remain dominant by serving as the queen. Polistes wasp might exert aggressive behavior to maintain dominance like biting at other wasps or "falling fight" in which both wasps fall from the nest. The queen usually stands erect over the subordinates, who typically crouch and lower their antennae in the queen's presence. A queen can also force subordinates to leave the nest when new offspring emerge. Short-term dominance is established quickly through intense interactions, whereas long-term dominance develops after physiological or reproductive hierarchy is maintained and prominent within a colony. [3]

Role of chemicals in distinguishing dominance

However, in Polistes wasps, the dominant female's presence alone isn't able to suppress other subordinates from laying eggs and reproducing. It is hypothesized that various factors play into this differentiation of roles. The presence of pheromones for instance might have something to do with it on a biological level. Aggressive displays of the queen also serve to suppress reproductive tendencies of worker females within a colony. [12] Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles (CHC) might also be a way to assess the ranking of dominance within a colony. This profile is applicable to the majority of social insects and is associated with fertility. Profiles of the queen differ from that of workers and subordinates. Co- foundresses are able to assess dominance of another wasp due to their CHCs. Hydrocarbons can also change within a wasp when rankings change within a colony. Queen wasps have also been observed to coat her eggs with CHCs to distinguish these eggs from ones potentially laid by subordinates. This would aid in workers destroying other eggs that do not have this specific chemical mix, exemplifying worker policing. [3]

Altruism

In many social wasps, in this case Polistes dorsalis, genetic relatedness seems to be a main factor that contributes to altruistic behaviors. Other eusocial insects tend to exhibit these behaviors as well. Hamilton's rule once again applies: altruistic behavior will be favored when the benefit to its relative compared to the cost of its fitness for being altruistic is greater. There's also the need to take into account their degree of relatedness. Hence, if relatedness is high so are the benefits of altruistic behavior to the individual. If relatedness is low, the cost of being altruistic might be more than the benefit, decreasing the likelihood of altruistic behaviors. It is proposed that even the variation in levels of altruism will differ among species, and are perhaps higher when individuals have higher relatedness. However, a predicted hypothesis that the frequency of subordinates and relatedness would be positively correlated is yet to be proven. [4] This might be due to variations in the cost/benefit analysis that is factored in when deciding whether or not to help. There are also other factors that play into wasps behaving in altruistic ways, not due to relatedness, but perhaps due to reciprocal altruism or other intrinsic rewards. [10]

Kin selection

Genetic relatedness within colonies

Hamilton's rule is a key part of the study of relatedness in that it notes the relative importance of direct reproduction compared to an alternative of indirect reproduction. [4] Within eusocial societies haplodiploidy plays a role when considering relatedness. For wasps, the queen is 1⁄2 related to worker wasps. Full sisters have even higher relatedness than this, with 3⁄4 shared genes. This accounts for why it might be desirable for wasps to want the production of sisters rather than having their own daughters. From a genetic standpoint, it would be more advantageous to have more genes spread through a sister wasp than daughter wasp. [13] In addition, if subordinate foundresses started reproducing, the average relatedness within the colony would be lowered. [4] To calculate relatedness, the coefficient of relatedness, or "r", can be solved for using the formula: r=Σ(0.5)^L, where L= number of generation links. This will put into numeric form the value for all possible pathways. The genetic relatedness between individuals can then be compared through these values. [10]

Kin recognition and discrimination

Investigation of nest mate recognition within hymenopterans has been of scientific interest, not only to better understand interactions within various species but also to potentially controlling social insects that have an economic impact. In social wasps, Polistes wasps have been used as a model of study to figure out mechanisms of kin recognition. Kin recognition can be coded by observing various treatments of certain wasps to others from their nest of origin versus treatment to foreign wasps not related. It was shown in species of Polistes that foundresses of a certain colony were more tolerant of the present of sister foundresses that did not live in the colony versus introduction of non- related foundresses. [14] Wasps tend to learn certain recognition cues when they are born into a nest. These recognition cues tend not to be in the form of visuals or sounds. Usually it is the presence of chemical cues that are shared between nest mates that allow for identification of relatives. [15]

Sensory systems

There's also a hypothesis that sensory systems can evolve over time due to shaping by signals. The facet diameter of a wasp's eye is related to the amount of surface area of the eye, which is an important part of the process of visual signaling. There also seems to be interaction between the surface area of the eye and species with smaller eyes, showing a greater increase in maximum facet diameter for small eyes compared to species with larger eyes. Visual signally has actually influenced eye morphology within Polistes species. Larger facets are typically expected to improve signal detection due to improved visual resolution. Selection might have a role in improved sensory inputs. Polistes live in open areas and rely on visual indicators of danger. Therefore, it is of importance how signal communication and detection is effected and evolves over time. Sensory systems might be dynamic entities as they are important for wasp functions. [16]

Worker–queen conflict

Queen's interest

Due to distinct differences in relatedness that are present in some eusocial societies, haplodiploidy can also lead to conflicts between worker interests and the interests of the queen. There can be differences in desired sex ratios as producing more of a certain gendered wasp might be more beneficial to either the queen or worker. From the queen's prospective, it would be optimal to produce equal numbers of sons and daughters. There is not a difference in relatedness between the genders, as the queen would pass on half of her genes in both instances. A 50:50 sex ratio might lead to the same amount of reproductive success, despite differences in gender. [17] The queen might even resort to aggressive behaviors in order to prevent other female wasps within the colony from reproducing. [1]

Workers' interest

From a worker standpoint, the queen's production of male wasps might actually be more beneficial compared to the progenies of other workers. For male workers there would be a 3⁄4 relatedness, which is greater than the 2⁄5 relatedness of progeny to other workers. [12] Worker policing might be a result of this to prevent the laying of eggs other than those produced by the queen. There might also be presence of a self- policing allele that could increase in frequency if it became advantageous for each individual wasp. If it became common for workers to police themselves in reproductive matters, workers that decide to reproduce on their own would not have a selective advantage. There would also be an increase in worker policing if perhaps there was a difference between queen-produced and worker-produced eggs. It is suggested that there might be a pheromonal difference, which would differentiate between the two means of growing a colony. [18]

Interaction with other species

Sting

Many wasps are known to use their stinging abilities as a means of tactic defense against diverse predators. The physical stinger is distinguished as the part of the wasp that physically injects venom into offenders. The sting, on the other hand, refers to the actual event. The effectiveness of stings tends to be dependent on the level of pain inflicted over the toxicity or paralyzing ability of certain types of venom. On a pain scale developed by Christopher K. Starr in this cited article, Polistes dorsalis ranks in the 2 range on a 5-point scale (from no pain to traumatically painful) which is pretty consistent in comparison to other Polistes species. A number of factors play into the intensity of sting from each individual wasp. The size of the colony, or the size of the aggregation, effects how easily they are to attack when disturbed or feel threatened. It seems that with larger groups of wasps, less provocation is needed for them to attack. Also, the size of the predator and their pain tolerance would also affect this relative pain scale. Smaller animals typically have smaller thresholds for pain than do larger ones. Toxicity, while not the key determinant of effectiveness also play a role, in that venom of higher toxicity tends to be more painful. [5]

An Elasmus male Elasmus male.jpg
An Elasmus male

Parasitism

Elasmus polistis Burks is an ectoparasite, a parasite that lives on the outside of its hosts. [19] Larvae of Polistes wasps have been preyed upon by this brood parasite. Elasmus polistis Burk is even categorized to be a primary parasite of various types of Polistes, specifically within the United States. [20] Female adult E. polistis take advantage of early- stage Polistes dorsalis pupae, when they are still in the capped cells within the nest, by laying their own eggs on top of these immobile Polistes pupae. [1] In one case there were up to 103 E. polistis pupae discovered on one Polistes host. [20] When these parasitic pupae emerge from the egg as larvae, they feed on the P. dorsalis pupae until only inedible materials remain. Their excreted fecal matter is then used to build a wall of defense on the cell's closed end to protect themselves against potential Polistes wasps that would want to attack them. [1]

Human importance

Antimicrobial peptides from venom

Various structures of antimicrobial peptides Various AMPs.png
Various structures of antimicrobial peptides

The ability of bacterial pathogens to develop resistance towards conventional antibiotics is a growing issue prominent within today's society. Furthermore, this growth occurs at a significantly fast pace leading scientists to turn towards other methods of controlling this issue. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) come from natural sources and seem to be a major focus for scientists. Experimentation with the unique mechanisms of these peptides has given scientists the possibilities for developing new drugs in the fight against bacteria. [6] AMPs have the potential to kill a variety of microorganisms and serve as a part of the body's defense with involvement in host repair and dealing with adaptive immune responses. They are also antimicrobial resistant which gives them advantage when forming a treatment. [21] Also, due to the composition of their membranes, most antimicrobial peptides are only toxic to bacteria but not eukaryotic cells. This is the basis for interest in the venom of Polistes dorsalis. Members of the Vespidae family were studied and shown to contain peptides with α-helical conformations in the venom. This conformation and its amphipathic properties allow these peptides to break through the bacteria membrane and assemble which results in the collapse of the membrane, and death of the bacteria. Scientists work to modify the structure of these AMPs to make them more amphipathic, which will contribute to antimicrobial activity. The venom from Polistes dorsalis, therefore is of pharmacological interest. [6]

Pollination

Sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea on Alopecurus myosuroides Alopecurus claviceps 2.JPG
Sclerotium of Claviceps purpurea on Alopecurus myosuroides

Ergot is a type of fungus that tends to grow on cereals and grasses, including rye. [22] The fungus Claviceps spp. infects the flowering head and replaces grain of the rye with an ergot that's a hard and compact fungal mycelium, deep purple in color. [23] In addition, sweet ergot honeydew oozes from these flowering heads. Insects often feed on this exudate and serve as vectors that carry it from source to source. Examination of Polistes dorsalis during their foraging behavior found presence of fungal conidia on various parts of their body including antennae, mouthparts, and in their gut. Therefore, this species of wasp has been identified as one of these insects, potentially transmitting this causal ergot fungus. This is part of the wasp's foraging behavior, as it is focused on exclusively locating fungal infected grasses and collecting this ergot honeydew. P. dorsalis carries the droplets in their mouthparts from infected grass like Paspalum dilatatum Pior, then crawls or moves through hopping flights towards other florets in the area. Polistes can also differentiate infected grass heads from uninfected ones, and usually land on uninfected grasses for grooming purposes only. Stopping on these grooming sites increase the likelihood of them serving as vectors for the spread of fungal infection, in addition to visiting various grass species during foraging. [24]

Related Research Articles

<i>Polistes</i> Genus of wasps

Polistes is a cosmopolitan genus of paper wasps and the only genus in the tribe Polistini. Vernacular names for the genus include umbrella wasps, coined by Walter Ebeling in 1975 to distinguish it from other types of paper wasp, in reference to the form of their nests, and umbrella paper wasps. Polistes is the single largest genus within the family Vespidae, with over 200 recognized species. Their innate preferences for nest-building sites leads them to commonly build nests on human habitation, where they can be very unwelcome; although generally not aggressive, they can be provoked into defending their nests. All species are predatory, and they may consume large numbers of caterpillars, in which respect they are generally considered beneficial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European paper wasp</span> Species of wasp

The European paper wasp is one of the most common and well-known species of social wasps in the genus Polistes. Its diet is more diverse than those of most Polistes species—many genera of insects versus mainly caterpillars in other Polistes—giving it superior survivability compared to other wasp species during a shortage of resources.

<i>Polistes gallicus</i> Species of wasp

Polistes gallicus is a species of paper wasp found in various parts of Europe, excluding England, Denmark, and Scandinavia, from warmer climates to cooler regions north of the Alps. Nests of these social insects are created in these various conditions. The Polistes species use an oral secretion to construct their nests, which consist of a combination of saliva and chewed plant fibers. This structural mixture physically protects the nest from various harsh elements and from weathering over time.

<i>Polistes humilis</i> Species of wasp

Polistes humilis, known as the Australian paper wasp, is a species of wasp in the family Vespidae that is found throughout Australia and which has been introduced to northern New Zealand. These paper wasps can be identified by their long thin legs and banded yellow and black coloring. They have been known to re-utilize old nests. While the species does not exhibit morphological class differences, there are distinct behavioral differences between queens and workers. In addition, the species is eusocial and benefits from relatedness between individuals. They are known for delivering a painful sting, especially when their nest is disturbed, a behavior that has been developed as a nest defense mechanism. While wasps are often viewed negatively, they play an important pollination role for many plants.

<i>Polistes annularis</i> Species of wasp

Polistes annularis is a species of paper wasp found throughout the eastern half of the United States. This species of red paper wasp is known for its large size and its red-and-black coloration and is variably referred to as a ringed paper wasp or jack Spaniard wasp. It builds its nest under overhangs near bodies of water that minimize the amount of sunlight penetration. It clusters its nests together in large aggregations, and consumes nectar and other insects. Its principal predator is the ant, although birds are also known to prey on it. Unlike other wasps, P. annularis is relatively robust in winter conditions, and has also been observed to store honey in advance of hibernation. This species has also been used as a model species to demonstrate the ability to use microsatellite markers in maternity assignment of social insects.

<i>Polistes metricus</i> Species of wasp

Polistes metricus is a wasp native to North America. In the United States, it ranges throughout the southern Midwest, the South, and as far northeast as New York, but has recently been spotted in southwest Ontario. A single female specimen has also been reported from Dryden, Maine. P. metricus is dark colored, with yellow tarsi and black tibia. Nests of P. metricus can be found attached to the sides of buildings, trees, and shrubbery.

<i>Polistes fuscatus</i> Species of insect

Polistes fuscatus, whose common name is the dark or northern paper wasp, is widely found in eastern North America, from southern Canada through the southern United States. It often nests around human development. However, it greatly prefers areas in which wood is readily available for use as nest material, therefore they are also found near and in woodlands and savannas. P. fuscatus is a social wasp that is part of a complex society based around a single dominant foundress along with other cofoundresses and a dominance hierarchy.

<i>Polistes exclamans</i> Species of wasp

Polistes exclamans, the Guinea paper wasp, is a social wasp and is part of the family Vespidae of the order Hymenoptera. It is found throughout the United States, Mexico, the Bahamas, Jamaica and parts of Canada. Due to solitary nest founding by queens, P. exclamans has extended its range in the past few decades and now covers the eastern half of the United States, as well as part of the north. This expansion is typically attributed to changing global climate and temperatures. P. exclamans has three specific castes, including males, workers, and queens, but the dominance hierarchy is further distinguished by age. The older the wasp is, the higher it is in ranking within the colony. In most P. exclamans nests, there is one queen who lays all the eggs in the colony. The physiological similarities between the worker and queen castes have led to experiments attempting to distinguish the characteristics of these two castes and how they are determined, though males have easily identifiable physiological characteristics. Since P. exclamans live in relatively small, open combed nests, they are often subject to predators and parasites, such as Chalcoela iphitalis, Elasmus polistis, and birds. P. exclamans have defense and recognition strategies that help protect against these predators and parasites.

<i>Polistes carolina</i> Species of wasp

Polistes carolina is one of two species of red paper wasp found in the eastern United States and is noted for the finer ridges on its propodeum. It is a social wasp in the family Vespidae and subfamily Polistinae. The species is native to the United States from Texas to Florida, north to New York, and west to Nebraska. The wasp's common name is due to the reddish-brown color of its head and body. P. carolina prefer to build their nests in protected spaces.

<i>Polistes instabilis</i> Species of wasp

Polistes instabilis, or Unstable paper wasp is a type of paper wasp, is a neotropical, eusocial wasp that can be found in tropical and subtropical areas such as Central America and South America. It can be easily identified with its characteristic yellow, brown, and reddish markings, and it builds nests made from chewing plant fibers and making them into paper.

Ropalidia fasciata, a common paper wasp, is a wide-ranging species that is distributed from India to the Lesser Sunda Islands, Palawan, and Ryukyu Islands, occupying the northern edge of Ropalidia's larger distribution. These primitively eusocial wasps are unique in that they do not exhibit the strict matrifilial, single-queen social structure found in many species of social insects. Instead, colonies are founded based on associations between several females, or 'foundresses'.

<i>Polistes nimpha</i> Species of wasp

Polistes nimpha is a eusocial paper wasp found all over Europe, with particular sightings in Turkey, Finland, Estonia, and Latvia. It is also found in northern Africa, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China. The climate in these areas is relatively cold and snowy in the winter, while summers are usually hot and dry, with steppe vegetation. Polistes nimpha colonies are relatively small and easily manipulated.

<i>Polistes bellicosus</i> Species of insect

Polistes bellicosus is a social paper wasp from the order Hymenoptera typically found within Texas, namely the Houston area. Like other paper wasps, Polistes bellicosus build nests by manipulating exposed fibers into paper to create cells. P. bellicosus often rebuild their nests at least once per colony season due to predation.

<i>Polistes canadensis</i> Species of wasp

Polistes canadensis is a species of red paper wasp found in the Neotropical realm. It is a primitively eusocial wasp as a member of the subfamily Polistinae. A largely predatory species, it hunts for caterpillar meat to supply its colony, often supplementing its developing larvae with nectar. The most widely distributed American species of the genus Polistes, it colonizes multiple combs, which it rears year-round.

<i>Agelaia pallipes</i> Species of wasp

Agelaia pallipes is a species of social paper wasp found from Costa Rica to Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A. pallipes is ground-nesting and is one of the most aggressive wasps in South America. This species is a predator of other insects, including flies, moths, and ground crickets, as well as baby birds.

<i>Belonogaster petiolata</i> Species of wasp

Belonogaster petiolata is a species of primitively eusocial wasp that dwells in southern Africa, in temperate or subhumid climate zones. This wasp species has a strong presence in South Africa and has also been seen in northern Johannesburg. Many colonies can be found in caves. The Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa, for example, contain large populations of B. petiolata.

<i>Polistes semenowi</i> Species of wasp

Polistes semenowi is a species of paper wasp in the genus Polistes that is found in southeastern and southern central Europe, as well as central Asia, and was until 2017 erroneously known by the name Polistes sulcifer, while a different species was incorrectly believed to represent P. semenowi. It is one of only four known Polistes obligate social parasites, sometimes referred to as "cuckoo paper wasps", and its host is the congeneric species Polistes dominula. As an obligate social parasite, this species has lost the ability to build nests, and relies on the host workers to raise its brood. P. semenowi females use brute force, followed by chemical mimicry in order to successfully usurp a host nest and take over as the queen.

<i>Polistes japonicus</i> Species of wasp

Polistes japonicus is a eusocial paper wasp found in Japan. It was first described by Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1858. It is closely related to Polistes formosanus. This species lives in small colonies with few workers and a foundress queen. Nests of these wasps are sometimes used as a traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan.

<i>Polistes versicolor</i> Species of wasp

Polistes versicolor, also known as the variegated paper wasp or yellow paper wasp, is a subtropical social wasp within Polistes, the most common genus of paper wasp. It is the most widely distributed of South American wasp species and is particularly common in the Southeastern Brazilian states. This social wasp is commonly referred to as the yellow paper wasp due to the distinct yellow bands found on its thorax and abdomen. The P. versicolor nest, made of chewed vegetable fiber, is typically a single, uncovered comb attached to the substrate by a single petiole. The yellow wasp is frequently found in urban areas. New nests and colonies are usually founded by an association of females, sometimes in human buildings.

Polistes erythrocephalus is a species of paper wasp in the subfamily Polistinae of family Vespidae found in Central and South America. P. erythrocephalus is a eusocial wasp, meaning that it possesses both reproductive and non-reproductive castes. The cooperation between the two castes to raise young demonstrates the altruistic nature of these wasps. P. erythrocephalus exhibits a four-stage colony cycle, as do many other Polistes wasps. This species generally feeds on larvae, occasionally their own, and is preyed upon by species such as army ants.

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  8. ↑ Carpenter, James M. (1996). "Distributional Checklist of the Species of the Genus Polistes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Polistini)" (PDF). American Museum Novitates.
  9. ↑ Queller, David C. (1997). "Control of reproduction in social insect colonies: individual and collective relatedness preferences in the paper wasp, Polistes annularis". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 40 (1): 3–16. doi:10.1007/s002650050310. S2CID   77425.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Davies, N. B., J. R. Krebs, and Stuart A. West. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. 978-1-4051-1416-5 pp367-89. Print.
  11. ↑ Gibo, David L. (1977). "A method for rearing various species of social wasps of the genus Polistes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) under controlled conditions". The Canadian Entomologist. 109 (7): 1013–1015. doi:10.4039/ent1091013-7. S2CID   85093333.
  12. 1 2 Strassmann, JE; Nguyen JS; Arévalo E; Cervo R; Zacchi F; et al. (2003). "Worker interest and male production in Polistes gallicus, a Mediterranean social wasp" (PDF). Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 16 (2): 254–259. doi: 10.1046/j.1420-9101.2003.00516.x . PMID   14635864 . Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  13. ↑ Dawkins, Richard (2006). The Selfish Gene (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 88–108. ISBN   978-0-19-929114-4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2014-10-13.
  14. ↑ Gamboa, George J.; Hudson K. Reeve; David W. Pfenning (1986). "The Evolution and Ontogeny of Nestmate Recognition in Social Wasps". Annual Review of Entomology. 31: 431–454. doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.31.1.431.
  15. ↑ Dapporto, Leonardo; Antonio Santini; Francesca R. Dani; Stefano Turillazzi (2007). "Workers of a Polistes Paper Wasp Detect the Presence of Their Queen by Chemical Cues". Chemical Senses. 32 (8): 795–802. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjm047 . PMID   17644826 . Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  16. ↑ Sheehan, Michael J.; Judy Jinn; Elizabeth A. Tibbetts (2014). "Coevolution of visual signals and eye morphology in. Polistes paper wasps". Biology Letters. 10 (4): 20140254. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2014.0254. PMC   4013709 . PMID   24789142.
  17. ↑ Davies, N. B., J. R. Krebs, and Stuart A. West. An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. 978-1-4051-1416-5 pp367-389. Print.
  18. ↑ Ratnieks, Francis L. W. (1988). "Reproductive Harmony via Mutual Policing by Workers in Eusocial Hymenoptera". The American Naturalist. 132 (2): 217–236. doi:10.1086/284846. JSTOR   2461867. S2CID   84742198.
  19. ↑ "Merriam- Webster Dictionary" . Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Whiteman E., Noah K.; Brett H. P. Landwer (July 2000). "Parasitoids Reared from Polistes (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) Nests in Missouri, with a State Record of Elasmus polistis Burks (Hymenoptera: Elasmidae)". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 73 (3): 186–188. JSTOR   25085965.
  21. ↑ Izadpanah, Arash; Gallo, Richard L. (March 2005). "Antimicrobial peptides". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 52 (3): 381–390. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2004.08.026. PMID   15761415.
  22. ↑ "Ergot". Biology. Therapeutic Research Faculty . Retrieved 2014-10-12.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  23. ↑ "Ergot of Rye - I: Introduction and History". Biology. UHM Botany Department . Retrieved 2014-10-12.{{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  24. ↑ Hardy, Tad N. (September 1988). "Gathering of Fungal Honeydew by Polistes spp. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) and Potential Transmission of the Causal Ergot Fungus". The Florida Entomologist. 71 (3): 374–376. doi:10.2307/3495447. JSTOR   3495447.
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