Defensive warning behavior expressed by three species of polistine wasps
Abstract
Although expressions of warning intruders in colonies of polistine wasps appear to vary somewhat with species-specific defensiveness, the type of intrusion, age of the colony, age and type of the nest occupants, and degree of colony homeostasis, they often share commonly expressed forms of behavior when warning both invertebrate and vertebrate intruders in the vicinity of the nest site. Warning behavior is not associated with most of the home range but with a nest yard, an area within visual range of the nest. The distance from the nest at which stinging is demonstrated is defined as a sting threshold point, which varies among different species and at different periods in the annual cycle. Aposematic coloration and pattern, expressed to varying degrees in different species and sexes, are demonstrated passively but play an active role in defense when combined with warning displays. While males do not engage in active defense, they play a more passive defensive role, and sometimes possess stronger aposematic patterns than those of females. They also engage in a low degree of overt warning expressions.
Resumen
Mientras que las expresiones de advertencia en las colonias de avispas polistinas parecen variar algo con actitudes defensiva propias de cada especie, el tipo de intrusión, edad de la Colonia, edad y tipo de ocupantes del nido y el grado de homeostasis de la colonia, a menudo comparten formas comunes de comportamiento de advertencia ante intrusos que se acerquen al nido ya sean invertebrados o vertebrados. El comportamiento de advertencia no está asociado con la mayoría del área de vida (home range) sino con el “patio del nido,” la adyacencia inmediata visual al nido. La distancia del nido a la cual puede suceder la picadura se define como el umbral de la picaura, la cual varía entre diferentes especies y en diferentes períodos del ciclo anual. Coloración aposemática y patrón, expresado en diversos grados en diferentes especies y sexos, se manifiestan pasivamente, pero juegan un papel activo en la defensa cuando se combina con el comportamiento agonístico. Aunque los machos no participan en la defensa activa, ellos juegan un papel defensivo pasivo y a menudo poseen patrones aposemáticos más fuertes que los de las hembras. También participan en bajo grado en manifiestas expresiones de advertencia.
Key Words: warning behavior; social wasp defensive behavior; aposematic coloration; nest yard; sting threshold
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