Colony productivity of the paper wasp Polistes snelleni: Comparison between cool-temperate and warm-temperate populations

Citation
K. Inagawa et al., Colony productivity of the paper wasp Polistes snelleni: Comparison between cool-temperate and warm-temperate populations, INSECT SOC, 48(3), 2001, pp. 259-265
Citations number
30
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Entomology/Pest Control
Journal title
INSECTES SOCIAUX
ISSN journal
0020-1812 → ACNP
Volume
48
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
259 - 265
Database
ISI
SICI code
0020-1812(2001)48:3<259:CPOTPW>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Production characteristics, including colony productivity, labor efficiency and sex ratio, in the paper wasp Polistes snelleni were compared between c ool-temperate (Hokkaido, northern Japan) and warm-temperate (Nagano and Kan to, central Japan) populations, based on examination of old nests. The prod uction schedule of P. snelleni was protandrous. Numbers of workers, males a nd gynes produced per colony were all larger in the warm-temperate populati ons. The numbers of reproductives (males plus gynes) per worker were genera lly greater in cool-temperate than in warm-temperate colonies, although som e extraordinarily large warm-temperate nests had very high gynes/worker rat ios. The number of males was not significantly correlated with the number o f workers in either cool-temperate or warm-temperate populations. Differenc es in the production characteristics between populations are discussed in t erms of climatic conditions, a major factor in differences in the length of the nesting period. The production of reproductives in very large warm-tem perate nests is discussed in relation to worker reproduction.