Alarm communication in Ropalidia social wasps

Fortunato, Angelo; Dani, Francesca Romana; Sledge, Matthew F.; Fondelli, L.; Turillazzi, Stefano

doi:10.1007/s00040-004-0744-2

Cited by 18 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…In ants, alarm pheromones occur in nearly all tested species and are typically produced by glands associated with defence or offence, such as sting poison glands (Holldobler and Wilson, 1990). Alarm pheromones are similarly widespread in social wasps and are found in the Vespa, Vespula, Polistes, Ropalidia, Polybia, Dolichovespula, Provespa and Polybioides, where they are generally released from sting venom glands (Fortunato et al, 2004). However, one species, Vespula squamosa, evidently releases alarm pheromone from a gland in the head (cephalic gland) (Landolt et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of natural and synthetic alarm pheromone and individual pheromone components on foraging behavior of the giant Asian honey bee,Apis dorsata

Wang

Tan

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Social pollinators such as honey bees face attacks from predators not only at the nest, but also during foraging. Pollinating honey bees can therefore release alarm pheromones that deter conspecifics from visiting dangerous inflorescences. However, the effect of alarm pheromone and its chemical components upon bee avoidance of dangerous food sources remains unclear. We tested the responses of giant honey bee foragers, Apis dorsata, presented with alarm pheromone at a floral array. Foragers investigated the inflorescence with natural alarm pheromone, but 3.3-fold more foragers preferred to land on the 'safe' inflorescence without alarm pheromone. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, we identified eight chemical components in the alarm pheromone, of which three components (1-octanol, decanal and gamma-octanoic lactone) have not previously been reported in this species. We bioassayed six major compounds and found that a synthetic mixture of these compounds elicited behaviors statistically indistinguishable from responses to natural alarm pheromone. By testing each compound separately, we show that gamma-octanoic lactone, isopentyl acetate and (E)-2-decen-1-yl acetate are active compounds that elicit significant alarm responses. Gamma-octanoic lactone elicited the strongest response to a single compound and has not been previously reported in honey bee alarm pheromone. Isopentyl acetate is widely found in the alarm pheromones of sympatric Asian honey bee species, and thus alarmed A. dorsata foragers may produce information useful for conspecifics and heterospecifics, thereby broadening the effects of alarm information on plant pollination.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of natural and synthetic alarm pheromone and individual pheromone components on foraging behavior of the giant Asian honey bee,Apis dorsata

Wang

Tan

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Social Hymenoptera recruit nestmates for defense by producing alarm pheromones, which commonly contain spiroacetals as major components (Bruschini and Cervo 2011; Bruschini et al 2006; Fortunato et al 2004; Francke and Kitching 2001). In fact, spiroacetals alone may be sufficient to induce an alarm response by the colony (Dani et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence that Cerambycid Beetles Mimic Vespid Wasps in Odor as well as Appearance

et al. 2016

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We present evidence that cerambycid species that are supposed mimics of vespid wasps also mimic their models in odor by producing spiroacetals, common constituents of vespid alarm pheromones. Adults of the North American cerambycids Megacyllene caryae (Gahan) and Megacyllene robiniae (Forster) are conspicuously patterned in yellow and black, and believed to be mimics of aculeate hymenoptera such as species of Vespula and Polistes. Adult males of M. caryae produce an aggregation-sex pheromone, but both sexes produce a pungent odor when handled, which was assumed to be a defensive response. Headspace aerations of agitated females of M. caryae contained 16 compounds that presented mass spectra characteristic of spiroacetals of eight distinct chemical structures, the dominant compound being (7E,2E)-7-ethyl-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane. Headspace samples of agitated males of M. caryae contained five of the same compounds, and with the same dominant compound. Females of M. robiniae produced six different spiroacetals, one of which was not produced by M. caryae, (2E,7E)-2-ethyl-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, and five that were shared with M. caryae, including the dominant (2E,8E)-2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane. The latter compound was the sole spiroacetal produced by both males and females of a South American cerambycid species that also is thought to be a wasp mimic, Callisphyris apicicornis (Fairmaire & Germain). Preliminary work also has identified spiroacetals of similar or identical structure released by vespid wasps that co-occur with the Megacyllene species.

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“…The ability to run multiple sets of experiments in rapid succession is particularly critical in nest-defense pheromone research, where often many experiments are required to unravel the composition of complex pheromone blends (Veith et al 1984, Dani et al 2000, Wager and Breed 2000, Fortunato et al 2004, and where research progress is tied each year to the few weeks during which vespine nests are in defense mode.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developing a paired-target apparatus for quantitative testing of nest defense behavior by vespine wasps in response to con- or heterospecific nest defense pheromones

McCann¹,

Moeri²,

Jimenez³

et al. 2015

JHR

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Social wasps commonly exhibit impressive, pheromone-mediated nest defenses with stinging attacks on potential vertebrate nest predators. Studying this type of nest defense and comparing results across studies is challenging because there is no standardized method for quantifying defense intensities. For that reason, we developed a simple, paired-target apparatus coupled with easy and inexpensive data recording and analysis technologies. Each target is formed by two conjoined black plastic weigh boats that generate distinct percussive sounds when struck by attacking wasps. A battery-powered microphone inside each target converts the sounds into electrical signals that are transferred to a digital audio recorder. These audio files are then split into left-and right-channel files, saved as 16-bit WAV files, and the strikes to each target are counted using the open-source software SoundRuler. Using this apparatus, we show that workers of Vespula pensylvanica, V. alascensis, and V. germanica strike targets that are treated with conspecific venom sac extract more frequently than paired control targets. We also show that workers of V. alascensis, V. pensylvanica and V. germanica strike targets that are treated with heterospecific extracts more frequently than paired control targets, indicating that the wasps recognize nest alarm pheromones from congeners. These data provide evidence for conserved nest defense pheromones among some Vespula wasps and proof of concept that our technology is capable of quantifying the intensity of pheromone-mediated nest defense behavior in Vespula and other large and formidable social wasps.

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Alarm communication in Ropalidia social wasps

Cited by 18 publications

References 24 publications

Effects of natural and synthetic alarm pheromone and individual pheromone components on foraging behavior of the giant Asian honey bee,Apis dorsata

Effects of natural and synthetic alarm pheromone and individual pheromone components on foraging behavior of the giant Asian honey bee,Apis dorsata

Evidence that Cerambycid Beetles Mimic Vespid Wasps in Odor as well as Appearance

Developing a paired-target apparatus for quantitative testing of nest defense behavior by vespine wasps in response to con- or heterospecific nest defense pheromones

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