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Worker policing in the common wasp Vespula Vulgaris is not aimed at inproving colony hygiene

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 09:52 authored by H Helanterä, A Tofilski, T Wenseleers, Francis Ratnieks
In insect societies, eggs laid by workers are frequently killed by other workers - a behaviour known as ¿worker policing¿. The traditional explanation of worker policing is that it is a mechanism to resolve intracolony conflict, and maintain the reproductive monopoly of the queen. Recently, Pirk et al. (2004) proposed that worker policing instead is aimed at removing unviable worker-laid eggs and is ultimately just another example of hygienic behaviour. Here we test this hypothesis for the common wasp Vespula vulgaris, a species with highly effective worker policing. We show that worker-laid eggs from queenless colonies have a lower hatch rate (68%) than queen-laid eggs (82%). Analysis of egg laying rates of queens and workers, however, shows that the difference is not big enough to explain the apparent absence of adult worker-derived males in this species.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Insectes Sociaux

ISSN

0020-1812

Issue

4

Volume

53

Page range

399-402

Pages

4.0

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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