Male wasp genitalia as an anti-predator defense

Sugiura, Shinji; TSUJII, Misaki

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.11.030

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 4 publications

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“…Males can move their abdomen in a motion that is very similar to a stinging female in action (Giannotti, 2004; Quicke, 2017). Furthermore, sting‐like genitalia are known in some wasp males [ Myzinum quinquecinctum tiphiid wasp (Quicke, 2017) and Anterhynchium gibbifrons mason wasp (Sugiura & Tsujii, 2022)], which could accentuate mimicry of the stinging behaviour. Pseudo‐stinging behaviour was shown to be an effective anti‐predator defence when genitalia have sting‐like structures (Sugiura & Tsujii, 2022).…”

Section: Other Factors Affecting Mimicry In Aculeatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Müllerian mimicry among bees and wasps: a review of current knowledge and future avenues of research

et al. 2023

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Many bees and stinging wasps, or aculeates, exhibit striking colour patterns or conspicuous coloration, such as black and yellow stripes. Such coloration is often interpreted as an aposematic signal advertising aculeate defences: the venomous sting. Aposematism can lead to Müllerian mimicry, the convergence of signals among different species unpalatable to predators. Müllerian mimicry has been extensively studied, notably on Neotropical butterflies and poison frogs. However, although a very high number of aculeate species harbour putative aposematic signals, aculeates are under-represented in mimicry studies. Here, we review the literature on mimicry rings that include bee and stinging wasp species. We report over a hundred described mimicry rings, involving a thousand species that belong to 19 aculeate families. These mimicry rings are found all throughout the world. Most importantly, we identify remaining knowledge gaps and unanswered questions related to the study of Müllerian mimicry in aculeates. Some of these questions are specific to aculeate models, such as the impact of sociality and of sexual dimorphism in defence levels on mimicry dynamics. Our review shows that aculeates may be one of the most diverse groups of organisms engaging in Müllerian mimicry and that the diversity of aculeate Müllerian mimetic interactions is currently under-explored. Thus, aculeates represent a new and major model system to study the evolution of Müllerian mimicry. Finally, aculeates are important pollinators and the global decline of pollinating insects raises considerable concern. In this context, a better understanding of the impact of Müllerian mimicry on aculeate communities may help design strategies for pollinator conservation, thereby providing future directions for evolutionary research.

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Section: Other Factors Affecting Mimicry In Aculeatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Müllerian mimicry among bees and wasps: a review of current knowledge and future avenues of research

et al. 2023

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Bee-Ing positive about wasp-negative media reporting: the opinions of scientists and their influence on the media

Oi,

Brown,

Sumner

2024

Insect. Soc.

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Insects are the most diverse group on earth, providing a vast array of essential functions for people and nature. Yet, our appreciation of their contributions is biased towards a few economically important taxa, especially pollinating insects like honeybees. Other taxa are less well appreciated despite the important roles they play, and these taxa are rarely (if ever) the focus of conservation initiatives. Here, we explore the role that scientists play through their interactions with the media in shaping our attitudes towards one of the least appreciated insects—the aculeate (stinging) wasps. Vespine wasps are an excellent taxonomic group for such a study as they are important predators in native ecosystems (e.g., the Northern Hemisphere—in Europe and North America) but ecologically devastating as invasive species in many regions of the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., New Zealand, Australia, South America). Despite this, global media coverage of wasps invariably focuses on and emotively exaggerates the negative defensive stinging behaviour of wasps, and almost entirely overlooks their beneficial positive roles (as pest controllers and pollinators). Wasp and bee scientists from around the world were surveyed about their interactions with the media and how they considered these interactions to influence public perceptions and insect conservation. Our surveys capture the negative-wasp and positive-bee biases experienced by scientists through their interactions with the media. We consider the implications of such biases on wasp populations, their conservation and management, and make recommendations for a more balanced portrayal of this important and diverse group of insects.

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Invasive predators can alter mimetic interactions between native insects

Sugiura,

Hayashi

2024

Biol Invasions

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Male wasp genitalia as an anti-predator defense

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

Müllerian mimicry among bees and wasps: a review of current knowledge and future avenues of research

Müllerian mimicry among bees and wasps: a review of current knowledge and future avenues of research

Bee-Ing positive about wasp-negative media reporting: the opinions of scientists and their influence on the media

Invasive predators can alter mimetic interactions between native insects

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