Abstract
Simple SummaryHornets are a group of 22 species of highly social wasps in the genus Vespa. These conspicuous insects construct large nests that are maintained by one or more queens and their offspring. Unlike other insects, many species of social wasps have glands on the underside of their abdomen called the van der Vecht and Richards glands. Documented uses for these glands by workers of some hornet species include producing pheromones for nestmate recruitment during group attacks on prey and chemical defense of nests against ants. We confirmed that these glands were present in nine hornet species. To examine differences among species in gland morphology, we used scanning electron microscopy to image the external surface of worker bodies around the glands. Accounting for differences in body size, we found that giant hornets and their close relatives had comparatively larger glands than the other species, some of which had glands that were approximately half as large. Differences among species are best explained by how hornets hunt and not by the likelihood that their nesting habitat increases exposure to ant predation. However, more information about how hornet workers use their sternal glands is necessary to permit further interpretation of their comparative gland morphology.Many social wasps in the speciose subfamilies Polistinae and Vespinae have two sternal glands—the van der Vecht gland and the Richards gland—that are not found in other insects. The presence of these glands has been confirmed in only 6 of 22 hornet species (genus Vespa) and images of their fine structure have not been produced. Here; we characterize the external morphology associated with both glands for workers of nine Vespa species using scanning electron microscopy. All hornets had similar gland configurations; although gland-associated external features differed among species. Scaled for size, glands were equivalently sized for the giant hornets (V. mandarinia and V. soror) and their closest phylogenetic relatives (V. tropica and V. ducalis). Relative size of gland-associated structures was reduced by half for V. simillima; V. velutina; and V. affinis workers. The remaining species (V. crabro and V. analis) had intermediately sized features. Differences among species in external gland structure were best explained by selective pressures related to predatory behavior, rather than defense of nests against ants. However, a lack of information about how Vespa workers use their van der Vecht and Richards glands limits a comparative interpretation of the function of their external gland morphology.
Highlights
VespaLinnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) is a biologically diverse
We extend that work to an examination via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the external features associated with the van der Vecht and Richards glands of V. affinis, V. analis, V. crabro, V. ducalis, V. mandarinia, V. simillima, V. tropica, and V. velutina
All Vespa specimens that we examined had obvious van der Vecht and Richards glands, there were differences among species in the details of their external features
Summary
VespaLinnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae) is a biologically diverse. Introduction genus of Vespa22 species of hornets that share many morphological, and diverse ecologicalLinnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)behavioral, is a biologically traitsgenus (Figure1)species [1–4]. ofThese conspicuous insects are mostly restrictedAsia, of 22 hornets that share many morphological, behavioral,toand ecological two species have natural distributions that extend to parts of Europe, NorthAfrica, traits (Figure 1) [1–4]. 1758 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Vespinae)behavioral, is a biologically traitsgenus Of 22 hornets that share many morphological, behavioral,toand ecological two species have natural distributions that extend to parts of Europe, North. These conspicuous insects are mostly restricted to Asia, althoughand the Middle. All hornets form eusocial colonies morphologically differentitwo species distributions that extend to parts with of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East [5]. Overwintered foundresses of of reproductives and workers [1,6]. Thereafter, workers assume most duties related to nest construction, foraging, and brood care, including rearing new reproductives toward the construction, foraging, and brood care, including rearing new reproductives toward the end of the cycle [1,2,6]
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