Intracolonial communication by body oscillations in the paper wasp,Polistes metricus

Abstract

Field studies (150 h) on pre-emergence, multiple-foundress colonies and laboratory observations (150 h) on post-emergence, single-foundress colonies revealed three distinct types of oscillatory movements in adultPolistes metricus. Two of these are analysed in this report. “Abdominal wagging” is a slow, horizontal abdominal oscillation performed by a female against the nest as she walks over brood cells. It is almost exclusively performed by queens in pre-emergence, foundress associations and more often by queens than workers in post-emergence colonies. In pre-emergence colonies abdominal wagging is done independently of the presence of other foundresses and first appears in colonies when broods contain third instar larvae. We recorded no responses by other foundresses to abdominal wagging. In post-emergence colonies the performance of abdominal wagging is significantly correlated with both numbers of third larval instars and prey trips by workers.