F queen in a temperate paper wasp Polistes snelleni Saussure (Hymenoptera Vespidae)

Abstract

Colonies of a temperate paper wasp Polistes snelleni were artificially orphaned in the laboratory to examine whether workers mated before orphaning can become inseminated egg-layers (replacement queens). Of 23 worker reproductives (with developed ovaries) in 14 colonies, 4 from 4 colonies were inseminated and became egg-layers. Since they did not contact males after orphaning, they were inseminated in the presence of foundress queens and became fertilized reproductives in orphan colonies without mating after orphaning. In addition to worker reproductives, 2 non-reproductive workers from 2 other colonies were also inseminated before orphaning. These results indicate that some workers of P. snelleni mate before orphaning and subsequently become inseminated egglayers after orphaning, showing the behavioural plasticity of temperate Polistes.