Continuous exchange of nectar nutrients in an Oriental hornet colony

Abstract

Nutritional exchanges play a fundamental role in the evolution of animal societies. In higher animal societies, while adult individuals can be both food donors and receivers, the offspring usually only receive food from the adults. Hornets and wasps are fierce insect hunters that feed their larvae with prey. However, although the adults also consume floral nectar, the role of nectar in vespid nutrition has remained largely unknown. We provided experimental colonies of the Oriental hornet with artificial nectar enriched with a 13C-labeled amino acid, and found that a continuous cycle of nutrition took place, in which nectar nutrients were used and exchanged back and forth between adults and larvae. We posit that this continuous cycle of nutrients constitutes a mechanism contributing to social cohesion. In an additional experiment, we found that nectar consumption was essential for adult and larval survival, suggesting the importance of wasps and hornets as pollinators in natural ecosystems.