Life history and chemical ecology of the Warrior wasp Synoeca septentrionalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)

Abstract

Swarm-founding ‘Warrior wasps’ (Synoeca spp.) are found throughout the tropical regions of South America, are much feared due to their aggressive nest defence and painful sting. There are only five species of Synoeca, all construct distinctive nests that consist of a single sessile comb built onto the surface of a tree or rock face, which is covered by a ribbed envelope. Although locally common, research into this group is just starting. We studied eight colonies of Synoeca septentrionalis, a species recently been described from Brazil. A new colony is established by a swarm of 52 to 140 adults that constructs a colony containing around 200 brood cells. The largest colony collected containing 865 adults and over 1400 cells. The number of queen’s present among the eight colonies varied between 3 and 58 and no clear association between colony development and queen number was detected. Workers and queens were morphologically indistinguishably, but differences in their cuticular hydrocarbons were detected, particularly in their (Z)-9-alkenes. The simple cuticular profile, multiple queens, large size and small number of species makes the ‘Warrior wasps’ an excellent model group for further chemical ecology studies of swarm-founding wasps.

Juvenile hormone affects age polyethism, ovarian status and cuticular hydrocarbon profile in workers of the waspPolybia occidentalis

“…Furthermore, JH also appears to be involved in regulating pheromone production, such as the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of queens and workers (Robinson and Vargo, 1997;Oliveira et al, 2017). CHCs provide nestmates with important information on an individual's caste, reproductive status and functional role in the colony (Singer and Espelie, 1992;Dani et al, 2001;Dapporto et al, 2004;Izzo et al, 2010;Ferreira-Caliman et al, 2010;Oi et al, 2015a;Kather and Martin, 2015;Valadares and Nascimento, 2016;Santos et al, 2018;reviewed in Antonialli-Junior et al, 2021). In primitively eusocial wasps, the CHC profiles of workers are linked to both JH titer and the individual's behavioral role (Sledge et al, 2004;Tibbetts and Izzo, 2009;Izzo et al, 2010).…”