Differential Properties of Venom Peptides and Proteins in Solitary vs. Social Hunting Wasps

Abstract

The primary functions of venoms from solitary and social wasps are different. Whereas most solitary wasps sting their prey to paralyze and preserve it, without killing, as the provisions for their progeny, social wasps usually sting to defend their colonies from vertebrate predators. Such distinctive venom properties of solitary and social wasps suggest that the main venom components are likely to be different depending on the wasps’ sociality. The present paper reviews venom components and properties of the Aculeata hunting wasps, with a particular emphasis on the comparative aspects of venom compositions and properties between solitary and social wasps. Common components in both solitary and social wasp venoms include hyaluronidase, phospholipase A2, metalloendopeptidase, etc. Although it has been expected that more diverse bioactive components with the functions of prey inactivation and physiology manipulation are present in solitary wasps, available studies on venom compositions of solitary wasps are simply too scarce to generalize this notion. Nevertheless, some neurotoxic peptides (e.g., pompilidotoxin and dendrotoxin-like peptide) and proteins (e.g., insulin-like peptide binding protein) appear to be specific to solitary wasp venom. In contrast, several proteins, such as venom allergen 5 protein, venom acid phosphatase, and various phospholipases, appear to be relatively more specific to social wasp venom. Finally, putative functions of main venom components and their application are also discussed.

Characterization of Venom Components and Their Phylogenetic Properties in Some Aculeate Bumblebees and Wasps

“…Most of Aculeate wasps, approximately 95%, are solitary wasps, which build their own nests and store their prey [4]. Most solitary wasps paralyze and preserve prey to provision their young using venom composed of bioactive molecules with various functions, including paralysis, antimicrobial activity, and developmental arrest [5].…”

Bradykinin in Hemipepsis ustulata: A novel method for safely milking wasps

“…Wasp venoms have been affected by evolutionary processes based on their changing molecular targets and contain a variety of biologically active substances (Lee et al, 2016) that help define metazoan taxa. In particular, solitary wasps contain neurotoxins such as bradykinins and pompilidotoxins that attack sodium channels, as well as a myriad of other diverse functioning compounds (Palma, 2006).…”

Evolution of the venom system in aculeate hymenoptera

“…Cytotoxic molecules that have been identified in social wasps, include mastoparan, which targets the mitochondrial membrane resulting in mediatiating tumor cell cytotoxicity [343] and a biologically active quinone isolated from Vespa simillima venom which induces apoptosis [344]. Mastoparans have been isolated from solitary Vespidae but no other species of solitary wasps [99], perhaps hinting at their predominant role in causing the cytotoxic effects of these species. Solitary bee venom showed an absence of cytotoxic effects.…”

“…Peptides and biogenic amines are mostly responsible for local edema, erythema and pain [246]. In contrast, venoms of parasitoid wasps have low concentrations of such peptides [99], which may underlie their lesser pain-inducing qualities [247]. Venom in Formicidae is used primarily for defence.…”

“…These enzymes have been found in both solitary and social venoms [99,309], however, in many species the function has been implied rather than experimentally tested.…”