ALARM PHEROMONES AND THE INFLUENCE OF PUPAL ODOR ON THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF Polybia paulista (IHERING) (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Nenhuma Miniatura disponível

Data

1998

Autores

Manzoli-palma, M.f. [UNESP]
Gobbi, N. [UNESP]
Palma, M.s. [UNESP]

Título da Revista

ISSN da Revista

Título de Volume

Editor

Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos - CEVAP, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP

Resumo

Field bioassays were used to demonstrate that aggressive behavior of Polybia paulista (Ihering) workers is elicited by alarm pheromones present in the venom reservoirs of nest defenders and that the brood care pheromone (pupal odor) produced by the young inside the nest also plays an important defensive role. Pupal odor was extracted from the surface of pupa bodies with methanol. When bioassayed alone, the pupal odor elicited only attractiveness of workers towards the odor source, but no stinging attacks were observed. However, in the presence of alarm pheromones, the brood care pheromone potentiated the effect caused by the pupal odors, increasing the number of stinging attacks during an action of colony defense. Thus, the presence of pupae within the nest evidently not only releases brood care but also enhances the aggressiveness of workers in P. paulista colonies.

Descrição

Palavras-chave

insecta, wasps, brood, defense behavior, venom reservoirs

Como citar

Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins. Botucatu, SP, Brazil: Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos - CEVAP, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, v. 4, n. 1, p. 61-69, 1998.