Manzoli-palma, M.f. [UNESP]Gobbi, N. [UNESP]Palma, M.s. [UNESP]2021-07-142021-07-141998Journal 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, 1998.0104-79301678-4936http://hdl.handle.net/11449/212332Field 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.61-69enginsectawaspsbrooddefense behaviorvenom reservoirsArtigo10.1590/S0104-79301998000100006S0104-79301998000100006Acesso abertoS0104-79301998000100006.pdf