30 research outputs found
Morfometria e anĂĄlise populacional de colĂŽnias de Apoica flavissima (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) coletadas na AmazĂŽnia brasileira
Are ant-repellent rubbing activities ofPolistes wasps (Hymenoptra; Vespidae) influenced by the intensity of ant predation?
An uneasy alliance: a nesting association between aggressive ants and equally fierce social wasps
International audienceAlthough the Neotropical territorially dominant arboreal ant Azteca chartifex Forel is very aggressive towards any intruder, its populous colonies tolerate the close presence of the fierce polistine wasp Polybia rejecta (F.). In French Guiana, 83.33% of the 48 P. rejecta nests recorded were found side by side with those of A. chartifex. This nesting association results in mutual protection from predators (i.e., the wasps protected from army ants; the ants protected from birds). We conducted field studies, laboratory-based behavioral experiments and chemical analyses to elucidate the mechanisms allowing the persistence of this association. Due to differences in the cuticular profiles of the two species, we eliminated the possibility of chemical mimicry. Also, analyses of the carton nests did not reveal traces of marking on the envelopes. Because ant forager flows were not perturbed by extracts from the waspsâ Dufour's and venom glands, we rejected any hypothetical action of repulsive chemicals. Nevertheless, we noted that the wasps âscrapedâ the surface of the upper part of their nest envelope using their mandibles, likely removing the antsâ scent trails, and an experiment showed that ant foragers were perturbed by the removal of their scent trails. This leads us to use the term âerasure hypothesis.â Thus, this nesting association persists thanks to a relative tolerance by the ants towards wasp presence and the behavior of the wasps that allows them to âcontainâ their associated ants through the elimination of their scent trails, direct attacks, âwing-buzzingâ behavior and ejecting the ants