Queen and worker policing in the tree wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris |
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Authors: | T. Wenseleers A. Tofilski F. L. W. Ratnieks |
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Affiliation: | (1) Laboratory of Entomology, Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium;(2) Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Institute for Advanced Study) , Wallotstrasse 19, Berlin, 14193 Berlin, Germany;(3) Laboratory of Apiculture and Social Insects, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK |
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Abstract: | Insect societies are sometimes exploited by workers who reproduce selfishly rather than help to rear the queen s offspring. This causes a conflict-of-interest with the mother queen and, frequently, with the non-reproductive workers as well. One mechanism that can reduce conflict is policing, whereby either the queen or other workers aggress egg-laying workers or destroy worker-laid eggs. Here we present the first direct observations of queen and worker policing in natural, unmanipulated colonies of a social insect, the tree wasp Dolichovespula sylvestris. Worker reproduction was common, with workers producing 50% of all male eggs. However, most worker-laid eggs, 91%, were policed within 1 day, whereas most queen-laid eggs, 96%, remained unharmed. The workers were responsible for 51% of all policing events and the queen for 49%. The workers and mother queen also commonly aggressed ovipositing workers, and successfully prevented them from depositing eggs in 14% and 6% of all attempted ovipositions. Hence, both queen policing and worker policing occur and policing acts via two distinct mechanisms: selective destruction of worker-laid eggs and aggression of ovipositing workers. At a general level, our study shows that both centralized and decentralized control can act together to suppress conflict within social groups.Communicated by R. Page |
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Keywords: | Social policing Reproductive conflict Social insects Vespinae Dolichovespula sylvestris |
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