REDIA (2004) 87, 179-181

I. Ortolani and R. Cervo (2004)
Coevolution in a social parasite wasp and its host (Polistes sulcifer and Polistes dominulus, Hymenoptera Vespidae): preliminary behavioural data
REDIA 87, 179-181
Abstract: In social parasitism a coevolutionary effect should depend on parasitic pressure, geographical origin or both. Polistes sulcifer is the social parasite of P. dominulus. It usurps host nests just before the workers emerge engaging 'bloody' fights with foundresses which often end with host submission. In the present work we investigate the coevolutive aspect of Polistes social parasitism, assuming that the behavioural patterns during and after usurpation vary with parasitic rate in host populations. Three host populations were chosen, two parasitized and one unparasitized. Single parasites were introduced in the cages of colonies belonging to these populations, and their usurpation success was noted. In succesfully usurped colonies we recorded parasite behaviour and foundresses presence/absence on the nest. Our preliminary results show that usurpation rate is significantly higher in colonies of the unparasitized population than in those of the parasitized ones. In usurped colonies, parasite aggressive behaviour is higher against foundresses belonging to parasitized populations, and stays constant over time.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment/habitat manipulation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Polistes dominula (predator)			Italy