Prezoto, FábioVilela, Ana P. P.Lima, Maria A. P.D'Ávila, SthefaneSouza Sinzato, Danielle M.Andrade, Flávio R.Santos-Prezoto, Helba H.Giannotti, Edilberto [UNESP]2014-05-272014-05-272004-10-06Sociobiology, v. 44, n. 2, p. 379-390, 2004.0361-6525http://hdl.handle.net/11449/67899Seven colonies of Mischocyttarus cassununga were studied under field conditions at Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, MG, in southeastern Brazil: in pre-emergence, post-emergence and decline stages, during 145.8 hours. Dominance interactions among the females were quantified to verify the dynamics of succession in the social hierarchy of the colonies. Early pre-emergence colonies present more intense aggressive interactions than late pre-emergence ones, because the females are engaged in securing the role of main egg layer in the nest. In post-emergence (pre-male) colonies the dominance hierarchy is more defined and the frequency of dominance and subordination behaviors were lower than in pre-emergence stages: most of the agonistic behaviors are restricted to the first ranked females (potentially queens) and the subordinate individuals play the role of workers in the nests. In the post-emergence, post-male, and decline stages the hierarchy is still maintained by the aggressive behaviors of the 1st-ranked female but because the presence of males and future nest foundresses these interactions are not well defined in a linear way.379-390engAggressive behaviorsColony stagesHierarchy of dominanceMischocyttarus cassunungaVespidaeHymenopteraMischocyttarusArtigoWOS:000223537800014Acesso restrito2-s2.0-46443454719753300597430777