Behavior of the primitively social wasp Montezumia cortesioides Willink (Vespidae Eumeninae) and the origins of vespid sociality

Abstract

Montezumia cortesioides is of special interest for studies of insect social evolution because it belongs to the primarily solitary-nesting subfamily (Eumeninae) of wasps that is most closely related to the subfamilies (Stenogastrinae, Polistinae, Vespinae) that contain eusocial species. It is one of a few eumenines that are primitively social, with more than one reproductive female on the same nest without a division of labor between sterile workers and egg-laying queens. Most of the 17 known progressively provisioning eumenines nest as solitary females, but there is an association between progressive provisioning and nest sharing: all of the three nest-sharing eumenines whose behavior has been observed progressively provision their larvae. Of those species, the behavior of M. cortesioides most closely resembles that of the eusocial (worker-containing) wasps, in nest-sharing, reuse of brood cells, progressive provisioning, and strong aggressive competition among resident females for empty cells. Observations suggest that groups are formed when offspring females remain on the maternal nest. A male repeatedly visited a nest and paired with a newly emerged female. Prey theft from the open cells of nestmates (intranidal prey theft) was associated with episodes of self-grooming and brief repetitive superficial inspections of prey-containing cells.

Phylogenomic Evidence Overturns Current Conceptions of Social Evolution in Wasps (Vespidae)

“…lay less eggs, and forage more). The observation of casteless nest sharing in at least three species of eumenines is interpreted by some researchers as evidence supporting the polygynous family hypothesis, in which the ancestor of eusocial vespids passed through an intermediary stage of communal nesting ( West-Eberhard 1978a , 2005a ). A previous molecular study recovering Zethinae as sister to Polistinae and Vespinae interpreted the close relationship to mean that the social system exhibited by Zethus miniatus could have been reminiscent of the transitional stage between solitary life and polistine eusociality ( Hines et al.…”

Kin selection in Columbian ground squirrels ( Urocitellus columbianus ): littermate kin provide individual fitness benefits

“…The Hamiltonian theory of kin selection has received considerable support over the past 30 years in taxa as diverse as insects (West-Eberhard 2005), spiders (Anthony 2003), birds (Komdeur 1992;Komdeur et al 1995;MacColl et al 2000) and mammals (Holekamp & Smale 1991;Armitage & Schwartz 2000). However, to our knowledge, few studies have investigated the effect that kin have on the fitness of close relatives (see Armitage & Schwartz 2000;MacColl et al 2000).…”

Prey identification in nests of the potter wasp Hypodynerus andeus (Packard) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) using DNA barcodes

“…Potter wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Eumeninae) are primarily solitary hunters, with some species having primitively social behavior (West-Eberhard 2005). Although nesting habits are variable among potter wasps, and various types of substrata may be used for nest construction, mud is broadly employed.…”