Foraging Activity in Polybia striata (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Izabella Schaefer; Wilker Morais; Lucas R. Oliveira; Bruno C. Barbosa; Fábio Prezoto

doi:10.37486/2675-1305.ec07013

Authors

Izabella Schaefer Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1922-476X
Wilker Morais Universidade Federal de Juiz de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6611-6085
Lucas R. Oliveira Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9681-1152
Bruno C. Barbosa Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2421-6239
Fábio Prezoto Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1179-9279

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec07013

Keywords:

Behavioral, Humidity, Nest maintenance, Temperature effects, Social wasp

Abstract

Foraging ensures resource acquisition for feeding, nest construction, and colony maintenance in social wasps. This study examined the foraging activity and dripping behavior of Polybia striata (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in an urban environment, analyzing their correlation with temperature and humidity. Observations took place on the campus of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, totaling 50 hours between January and February 2018. Every 30 minutes, departures and returns to the nest were recorded, along with climatic variables. Foraging activity peaked between 9:00 and 13:30, the hottest period of the day. The number of departures increased with temperature and decreased with humidity, suggesting that hottest conditions favor foraging while high humidity inhibits it. Always after rainfall, wasps engaged in dripping behavior, regurgitating small water droplets from the nest structure. This behavior occurred more frequently in the morning and was linked to nest maintenance. In addition to advancing knowledge of the species' ecology, this study may inform management strategies in urban areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Archer, M. E. (2012) Vespine Wasps of the World: Behaviour, Ecology & Taxonomy of the Vespinae Manchester, UK: Siri Sci. Press.

Ayres, M.; Ayres Jr, M. D.; Ayres, D. L.; Santos, A. A. S. (2007). BioEstat 5.3: Aplicações estatísticas nas áreas das Ciências Biomédicas. Sociedade Civil Mamirauá. https://www.mamiraua.org.br/pt-br/downloads/programas/bioestat-versao-53/

Barbosa, B. C.; Maciel, T. T.; Somavilla, A.; Prezoto, F. (2021) Interactions between wasps and other animals: associations and natural enemies. In: Prezoto, F.; Nascimento, F. S.; Barbosa, B. C.; Somavilla, A. (Eds.), Neotropical Social Wasps: Basic and Applied Aspects. pp. 395-403. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-53510-0_21

Barbosa, B. C.; Maciel, T. T. (2023) Vespas sociais no Controle. Cultivar Hortaliças e Frutas, XXI(140): 14-17. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.8364261

Castro, M. M.; Guimarães, D. L.; Prezoto, F. (2011) Influence of environmental factors on the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus cassununga (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Sociobiology, 58(1): 133-141.

Cavenazzi, N. C. S.; Noll, F. B. (2011) Environmental factors influencing foraging activity in the social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini). Pysche, 2011: 542487. doi: 10.1155/2011/542487

Chown, S. L.; Nicolson, S. (2004) Insect Physiological Ecology: Mechanisms and Patterns, Oxford. doi: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198515494.001.0001

Dejean, A.; Rodriguez-Perez, H.; Carpenter, J. M.; Azémar, F.; Corbara, B. (2017) The predatory behavior of the Neotropical social wasp Polybia rejecta. Behavioural Processes, 140: 161-168.

Detoni, M.; Mattos M. C.; Castro M. M.; Barbosa, B. C.; Prezoto, F. (2015) Activity schedule and foraging in Protopolybia sedula (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Revista Colombiana de Entomología, 41(2): 245-248.

Detoni, M.; Prezoto, F. (2021) The Foraging Behaviour of Neotropical Social Wasps. In: Prezoto, F.; Nascimento, F. S.; Barbosa, B. C.; Somavilla, A. (Eds.), Neotropical Social Wasps: Basic and Applied Aspects. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-53510-0_3

Deutsch, C. A.; Tewksbury J. J.; Huey, R. B.; Sheldon, K. S.; Ghalambor, C. K.; Haak, D. C.; Martin, P. R. (2008) Impacts of climate warming on terrestrial ectotherms across latitude. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(18): 6668-6672. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0709472105

Dillon, M. E.; Wang, G.; Huey, R. B. (2010) Global metabolic impacts of recent climate warming. Nature, 467(7316): 704-706. doi: 10.1038/nature09407

Elisei, T.; Guimarães, D. L.; Ribeiro C.; Prezoto, F. (2005) Foraging activity and nesting of swarm-founding wasp Synoeca cyanea (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Polistinae). Sociobiology, 46(2), 317-327.

Elisei, T.; Nunes J. V.; Ribeiro C.; Fernandes, A. J.; Prezoto, F. (2013) What is the ideal weather for social wasp Polistes versicolor (Olivier) go to forage? EntomoBrasilis, 6(3): 214-216. doi: 10.12741/ebrasilis.v6i3.342

Jeanne, R. L.; Taylor, B. J. (2021) Research Techniques Used in the Study of Social Wasps. In: Prezoto, F.; Nascimento, F. S.; Barbosa, B. C.; Somavilla, A. (Eds.), Neotropical Social Wasps: Basic and Applied Aspects, pp. 337-372. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-53510-0_19

Maciel, T. T.; Barbosa, B. C.; Oliveira, M. L.; Prezoto, F. (2024) If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! Notes on the influence of temperature on the nesting of social wasps. Revista Chilena de Entomología, 50(2).

Mayorga-Ch, D.; Rodríguez-C, C.; Ortíz-Reyes, A.; Romero-Tabarez, M.; Sarmiento, C. E. (2021) Interactions of Social Wasps with Microorganisms. In: Prezoto, F.; Nascimento, F. S.; Barbosa, B. C.; Somavilla, A. (Eds). Neotropical Social Wasps: Basic and Applied Aspects. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-53510-0_22

Prezoto, F.; Giannotti, E.; Machado, V. L. L. (1994) Atividade forrageadora e material coletado pela vespa social Polistes simillimus Zikán, 1951 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae). Insecta, 3(1): 11-19.

Prezoto, F.; Maciel, T. T.; Detoni, M.; Mayorquin, A. Z.; Barbosa, B. C. (2019) Pest control potential of social wasps in small farms and urban gardens. Insects, 10(7): 192.

Ribeiro-Júnior, C.; Guimarães, D. L.; Elisei, T.; Prezoto, F. (2006) Foraging activity rhythm of the Neotropical swarm-founding wasp Protopolybia exigua (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini) in different seasons of the year. Sociobiology 47(1): 115-123

Richards, O. W. (1978) The social wasps of the Americas excluding the Vespinae. British Museum (Natural History), London.

Santos, G. M. M.; Zanuncio, J. C.; Pires, E. M.; Prezoto F.; Pereira, J. M. M.; Serrão, J. E. (2009) Foraging of Parachartergus fraternus (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Epiponini) on cloudy and sunny days. Sociobiology, 53(2B): 431-441.

Stabentheiner, A.; Nagy, J. M.; Kovac, H.; Petrocelli, I.; Turillazzi, S. (2022) Effect of climate on strategies of nest and body temperature regulation in paper wasps, Polistes biglumis and Polistes gallicus. Scientific Reports, 12: 3372. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07279-0

Wallace, C. S.; Szarek, S. R. (1981) Ecophysiological studies of Sonoran Desert plants. VII. Photosynthetic gas exchange of winter ephemerals from sun and shade environments. Oecologia, 51: 57-61. doi: 10.1007/BF00344653

Wenzel, J. W. (2020) Nest Structure: Social Wasps. In: Starr, C. (Ed), Encyclopedia of Social Insects, pp. 1-14. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-90306-4_146-1