Abstract
The interactive behaviors of two species of social wasps, Protopolybia chartergoides (Gribodo) and Charterginus fulvus Fox with Cecropia obtusifolia (Cecropiaceae) are described. The use of Cecropia Müllerian bodies by the two wasps is also described, as well as the distribution of this trait in Protopolybia and Charterginus.
Highlights
Associations between plants and insects have long been known to science and may be among the oldest coevolved systems on our planet (Bronstein et al, 2006; Mishra et al, 2015)
The first case was described by Richards (1978), who collected Protopolybia chartergoides (Gribodo) on the trichilia pads of a Cecropia sp. tree, and suggested that its trichomes were used in nest construction by the wasp
Lapierre et al (2007) made intensive observations of Charterginus xanthura and C. nevermanni Bequaert collecting Mullerian bodies (MBds) on different Cecropia species in French Guiana and Costa Rica. These wasps can collect MBds from trichilia pads while individually foraging, or they may use a group strategy (C. xanthura) in which one of the wasps faces a domatia entrance and prevents any ants from leaving the nest, while other wasps collect MBds from the trichilium
Summary
Associations between plants and insects have long been known to science and may be among the oldest coevolved systems on our planet (Bronstein et al, 2006; Mishra et al, 2015). Lapierre et al (2007) made intensive observations of Charterginus xanthura (de Saussure) and C. nevermanni Bequaert collecting Mullerian bodies (MBds) on different Cecropia species in French Guiana and Costa Rica. These wasps can collect MBds from trichilia pads while individually foraging ( they are susceptible to aggressive encounters by patrolling ants), or they may use a group strategy (C. xanthura) in which one of the wasps faces a domatia entrance and prevents any ants from leaving the nest, while other wasps collect MBds from the trichilium
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