Viviana de Oliveira Torres - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Viviana de Oliveira Torres

Anais Do Encontro De Iniciacao Cientifica Enic, Feb 26, 2015

Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Mar 9, 2009

Sociobiology, 2009

Résumé/Abstract The present study assessed the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus consimilis, th... more Résumé/Abstract The present study assessed the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus consimilis, through observations of 10 colonies from September 2007 to June 2008. The mean frequency of wasps foraging during the period of activity of the colony was 29.89% ...

Revista Brasileira De Entomologia, Jul 1, 2017

Abstract The social wasps have a remarkable system of organization in which chemical communicatio... more Abstract The social wasps have a remarkable system of organization in which chemical communication mediate different behavioral interactions. Among the compounds involved in this process, cuticular hydrocarbons are considered the main signals for nestmate recognition, caste differentiation, and fertility communication. The aims of this study were to describe the cuticular chemical compounds of the species Mischocyttarus consimilis, Mischocyttarus bertonii, and Mischocyttarus latior, and to test whether these chemical compounds could be used to evaluate differences and similarities between Mischocyttarus species, using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Workers from these three species presented a variety of hydrocarbons ranging from C17 to C37, and among the compounds identified, the most representative were branched alkanes, linear alkanes and alkenes. The results revealed quantitative and qualitative differences among the hydrocarbon profiles, as confirmed by discriminant analysis. This study supports the hypothesis that cuticular chemical profiles can be used as parameters to identify interspecific and intercolony differences in Mischocyttarus, highlighting the importance of these compounds for differentiation of species and populations.

Sociobiology, 2013

Introduction According to Wilson (1990), the non-reproductive division of labor among nestmates i... more Introduction According to Wilson (1990), the non-reproductive division of labor among nestmates is the evolutionary advantage that most promoted the ecological success of social insects. This division of labor among workers that continues throughout their lifetimes is known as temporal polyethism; or if according to the morphology of the individual, morphological polyethism (Naug & Gadagkar, 1998a). This phenomenon is most common in termites (Noroit, 1989) and ants (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990), and was recently discovered in a species of bee, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) (Grüter et al., 2011). Temporal polyethism is evident in honey-bees (Seeley, 1995) and stingless bees (Sommeijer, 1984

Chemoecology, 2021

By understanding the intraspecific differences of traits presented by a species, we can gain grea... more By understanding the intraspecific differences of traits presented by a species, we can gain greater insight into their variable functionality in microevolutionary processes relative to genetic and environmental factors leading to ecological adaptation and speciation. However, few studies have evaluated how intraspecific variation of cuticle hydrocarbons (CHCs) occurs in relation to the apolar part of ant venom. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of compounds present in the cuticle and venom of different populations of Ectatomma brunneum ants. To accomplish this, 310 foragers from different populations were collected. Analysis of CHCs and the apolar part of the venom was performed using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Our results show that both the composition of CHCs and the apolar part of the venom vary significantly among the different populations. Differences in composition between the two types of compounds correlate with the geographic distance between the populations. In this sense, the greater the distance, the smaller is the gene flow between them. On the other hand, particular environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and available resources, leading to changes generated by adaptation, could be responsible for a part of these differences.

Journal of Insect Science, 2010

This study examined the nest architecture, colony productivity, and duration of the immature stag... more This study examined the nest architecture, colony productivity, and duration of the immature stages of the social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The study was carried out under field conditions. Nests of M. consimilis consist of a single uncovered comb, which is attached to the substratum by a single petiole. The data for the nest architecture showed a positive and significant correlation between the size of the comb and the diameter of the petiole, and also between the height and diameter of the cells. The nests were constructed on horizontal, vertical, and sloping substrata with no apparent preference for a specific orientation. The colonies produced 72.9 cells and 40.7 adults on average. The mean frequency of productive cells was 33.3%, and 19.4% of the cells were reused. The mean duration of the immature stages combined was 69.7 days and the egg, larval, and pupal stages had mean durations of 14.9, 36.0, and 18.8 days, respectively. The duration of each immature stage was significantly shorter in the warmhumid season, and the larval and pupal stages were shorter during the colony pre-emergence stage.

Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 2017

The aim of this study was to explore whether the nest chemical profile (NCP) can be used to deter... more The aim of this study was to explore whether the nest chemical profile (NCP) can be used to determine intra- and interspecific differences in social wasps of the subfamily Polistinae. For this purpose, Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) was used to directly analyze small pieces of nest as well as the gasters of females. An advantage of the methodology was that no sample preparation was required. FTIR-PAS combined with multivariate discriminant analyzes was used, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, to evaluate the NCPs of six species of polistine wasps, observing the influence of the nesting environment and investigating the relationships among the nest and female cuticular chemical profiles. The results revealed significant inter-species differences among the NCPs, as well as strong correlations with the environments in which the nests were located. The Mischocyttarus and Polistes species belong to the same tribe (Polistini) and therefore e...

Neotropical Entomology, 2014

ABSTRACT In the subfamily Polistinae, caste dimorphism is not pronounced and differences among fe... more ABSTRACT In the subfamily Polistinae, caste dimorphism is not pronounced and differences among females are primarily physiological and behavioral. We investigated factors that indicate the reproductive status in females of Polistes ferreri Saussure. We analyzed females from nine colonies and evaluated morphometric parameters, ovarian development, occurrence of insemination, relative age, and cuticular chemical profile. The colony females showed three kinds of ovarian development: type A, filamentous ovarioles; type B, ovarioles containing partially developed oocytes; and type C, long and well-developed ovarioles containing two or more mature oocytes. The stepwise discriminant analysis of the cuticular chemical profile showed that it was possible to distinguish the three groups of females: workers 1, workers 2, and queens. However, the stepwise discriminant analysis of the morphological differences did not show significant differences among these groups. The queens were among the older females in the colony and were always inseminated, while the age of the workers varied according to the stage of colony development.

Sociobiology, 2014

RF torres 1 , VO torres 1 , YR súarez 2 , WF antonialli-junior 2 Introduction Eusocial wasps are ... more RF torres 1 , VO torres 1 , YR súarez 2 , WF antonialli-junior 2 Introduction Eusocial wasps are represented by 29 genera in the Neotropical region, 22 of which are recorded in Brazil (Carpenter & Marques, 2001). These wasps occupy many kinds of habitats, primarily associated with human constructions (Lima et al., 2000; Prezoto et al., 2007), i.e., show a high degree of synanthropy (Fowler, 1983). Among the numerous factors that contribute to the success of social wasps, the colony productivity stands out. Productivity depends on ecological factors including changes in temperature, prey availability, and number of founders, among others (Gamboa et al., 2005; Inagawa et al., 2001). According to Gamboa (1978), for example, colonies of Polistes metricus (Say) founded by association are more productive than those initiated by a single female. Tibbetts & Reeve (2003) found that Polistes dominula (Christ) colonies initiated by association better Abstract Currently, the main impacts on biodiversity are generated by human activities in natural environments. Monitoring the number of species of social wasps nesting attached to buildings is important to evaluate the effect of this activity on colony productivity. This study evaluated the effect of habitat alteration, particularly by human activity on the productivity of colonies of the wasp Polistes versicolor. We evaluated 20 abandoned nests and compared the productivity parameters: number of cells constructed, number of adults produced, nest dry mass, proportion of productive cells, number of generations, and diameter of the petiole. Most of these parameters showed higher values in the colonies nesting in the habitat less altered by human activity. Therefore, productivity was significantly higher in this habitat. In the nests, regardless of the site, the cells that were central and closer to the petiole were the most productive. Colonies in the two habitats used different strategies: in the habitat more altered by human activity, the wasps invested more in reusing cells than in enlarging the nest. However, the species continues to nest in the urban area, probably because of decreased interspecific competition, predation, and interference from climate variations.

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2009

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2009

Polistes é um gênero que compreende as vespas consideradas menos derivadas, de fundação independe... more Polistes é um gênero que compreende as vespas consideradas menos derivadas, de fundação independente e sem diferenças morfológicas entre castas que constroem ninhos com um único favo descoberto e fixo ao substrato por um pedúnculo e que apresenta relativamente poucos indivíduos na colônia (Jeanne 1980). Colônias de vespas do gênero Polistes podem ser iniciadas por uma única (haplometrose), ou associação (pleometrose) de fêmeas fecundadas, padrões esses descritos para as espécies de fundação independente (Strassmann 1981; Reeve 1991). Em fundação pleometrótica, depois de estabelecido a colônia, uma única fêmea torna-se a rainha e realiza todo o trabalho reprodutivo (Wilson 1971). Ciclos coloniais de vespas desse gênero são sincrônicos com as estações do ano e relativamente curtos para regiões de clima temperado, onde as estações anuais bem definidas determinam que fundações e abandonos ocorram em períodos específicos do ano (Jeanne 1980). Observações sobre o ciclo colonial de espécies de região de clima temperado mostram que as fundações tendem a ocorrer em meados da primavera e o abandono ao final do outono e início do inverno (Gamboa et al. 1991). Entretanto, em regiões de clima tropical, as colônias apresentam ciclos assincrônicos em relação às estações do ano, podendo ocorrer, em uma mesma Aspectos bionômicos da vespa social Neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Journal of Insect Science, 2012

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Journal of Insect Science, 2012

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia

As a result of environmental change by anthropic action, animal species that inhabit these areas ... more As a result of environmental change by anthropic action, animal species that inhabit these areas may suffer the effects of it on their phenotypes as a consequence of adapting to these conditions. In the case of social wasps, cuticular chemical compounds may be influenced, since these vary depending on genetic and environmental factors. However, few studies have investigated the synanthropic effects over the cuticular surface of social wasps. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how cuticular compounds vary according to the different degrees of human activity and test the hypothesis that cuticular compounds of social wasps are affected by the level of anthropic activity in which their nests are found. Data on the cuticular chemical compounds composition of colonies of 3 species of social wasps were used along with the level of anthropization of their nesting sites in four municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From the geographical coordinates of th...

Sociobiology, 2014

Introduction An important feature for the ecological success of social insects is the division of... more Introduction An important feature for the ecological success of social insects is the division of labor among individuals in their colonies (Wilson, 1985). For this reason, many investigators have devoted their efforts to elucidate the parameters that determine this division, especially the distinction and determination of the caste (Robinson, 1992; O'Donnell, 1995; O'Donnell, 1998). The subfamily Polistinae has characteristics that are important to understand how the social behavior has evolved in the wasps (Ross & Matthews, 1991). The degree of morphological differences among castes in this group can range from total absence (Richards, 1971; Strassmann et al., 2002) to sharp differences among castes (Jeanne, 1991). This, indeed, may be a key feature in the evolution of social insects, since the presence of wide differentiation among castes indicates a higher degree of sociality (Bourke, 1999). In the basal Polistinae such as Mischocyttarus and Polistes, females are distinguished by their behavior, dominance hierarchy, degree of ovarian development and/or their Abstract A fundamental feature in the evolution of social insects is the separation of castes, and the presence of wide differentiation between castes indicates a more advanced degree of sociability. In this study, we evaluated factors indicating the reproductive status of females in colonies of the social wasp Polistes versicolor. The reproductive status of each female was examined by measuring nine morphometric characters, by tracing the cuticular chemical profile, by evidence of insemination and by recording the relative age. We conclude that P. versicolor colonies present 3 female groups according to cuticular chemical profile difference. The first group is made of females with filamentous ovarioles, typical of workers; the second one is females with intermediate ovarioles; and the third group is the group of the queens, which are older females, already inseminated and with the greatest degree of ovarian development. No significant external morphological differences were found among these female groups. Therefore, despite the lack of significant morphological differences among females, there are other factors such as the chemical composition of the cuticula, which are indicative of the reproductive physiological condition of the female in the colony.

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2011

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia

Orbital: The Electronic Journal of Chemistry

Anais Do Encontro De Iniciacao Cientifica Enic, Feb 26, 2015

Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Mar 9, 2009

Sociobiology, 2009

Résumé/Abstract The present study assessed the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus consimilis, th... more Résumé/Abstract The present study assessed the foraging activity of Mischocyttarus consimilis, through observations of 10 colonies from September 2007 to June 2008. The mean frequency of wasps foraging during the period of activity of the colony was 29.89% ...

Revista Brasileira De Entomologia, Jul 1, 2017

Abstract The social wasps have a remarkable system of organization in which chemical communicatio... more Abstract The social wasps have a remarkable system of organization in which chemical communication mediate different behavioral interactions. Among the compounds involved in this process, cuticular hydrocarbons are considered the main signals for nestmate recognition, caste differentiation, and fertility communication. The aims of this study were to describe the cuticular chemical compounds of the species Mischocyttarus consimilis, Mischocyttarus bertonii, and Mischocyttarus latior, and to test whether these chemical compounds could be used to evaluate differences and similarities between Mischocyttarus species, using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Workers from these three species presented a variety of hydrocarbons ranging from C17 to C37, and among the compounds identified, the most representative were branched alkanes, linear alkanes and alkenes. The results revealed quantitative and qualitative differences among the hydrocarbon profiles, as confirmed by discriminant analysis. This study supports the hypothesis that cuticular chemical profiles can be used as parameters to identify interspecific and intercolony differences in Mischocyttarus, highlighting the importance of these compounds for differentiation of species and populations.

Sociobiology, 2013

Introduction According to Wilson (1990), the non-reproductive division of labor among nestmates i... more Introduction According to Wilson (1990), the non-reproductive division of labor among nestmates is the evolutionary advantage that most promoted the ecological success of social insects. This division of labor among workers that continues throughout their lifetimes is known as temporal polyethism; or if according to the morphology of the individual, morphological polyethism (Naug & Gadagkar, 1998a). This phenomenon is most common in termites (Noroit, 1989) and ants (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990), and was recently discovered in a species of bee, Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille) (Grüter et al., 2011). Temporal polyethism is evident in honey-bees (Seeley, 1995) and stingless bees (Sommeijer, 1984

Chemoecology, 2021

By understanding the intraspecific differences of traits presented by a species, we can gain grea... more By understanding the intraspecific differences of traits presented by a species, we can gain greater insight into their variable functionality in microevolutionary processes relative to genetic and environmental factors leading to ecological adaptation and speciation. However, few studies have evaluated how intraspecific variation of cuticle hydrocarbons (CHCs) occurs in relation to the apolar part of ant venom. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of compounds present in the cuticle and venom of different populations of Ectatomma brunneum ants. To accomplish this, 310 foragers from different populations were collected. Analysis of CHCs and the apolar part of the venom was performed using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Our results show that both the composition of CHCs and the apolar part of the venom vary significantly among the different populations. Differences in composition between the two types of compounds correlate with the geographic distance between the populations. In this sense, the greater the distance, the smaller is the gene flow between them. On the other hand, particular environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity and available resources, leading to changes generated by adaptation, could be responsible for a part of these differences.

Journal of Insect Science, 2010

This study examined the nest architecture, colony productivity, and duration of the immature stag... more This study examined the nest architecture, colony productivity, and duration of the immature stages of the social wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The study was carried out under field conditions. Nests of M. consimilis consist of a single uncovered comb, which is attached to the substratum by a single petiole. The data for the nest architecture showed a positive and significant correlation between the size of the comb and the diameter of the petiole, and also between the height and diameter of the cells. The nests were constructed on horizontal, vertical, and sloping substrata with no apparent preference for a specific orientation. The colonies produced 72.9 cells and 40.7 adults on average. The mean frequency of productive cells was 33.3%, and 19.4% of the cells were reused. The mean duration of the immature stages combined was 69.7 days and the egg, larval, and pupal stages had mean durations of 14.9, 36.0, and 18.8 days, respectively. The duration of each immature stage was significantly shorter in the warmhumid season, and the larval and pupal stages were shorter during the colony pre-emergence stage.

Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology, 2017

The aim of this study was to explore whether the nest chemical profile (NCP) can be used to deter... more The aim of this study was to explore whether the nest chemical profile (NCP) can be used to determine intra- and interspecific differences in social wasps of the subfamily Polistinae. For this purpose, Fourier transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) was used to directly analyze small pieces of nest as well as the gasters of females. An advantage of the methodology was that no sample preparation was required. FTIR-PAS combined with multivariate discriminant analyzes was used, to the best of our knowledge for the first time, to evaluate the NCPs of six species of polistine wasps, observing the influence of the nesting environment and investigating the relationships among the nest and female cuticular chemical profiles. The results revealed significant inter-species differences among the NCPs, as well as strong correlations with the environments in which the nests were located. The Mischocyttarus and Polistes species belong to the same tribe (Polistini) and therefore e...

Neotropical Entomology, 2014

ABSTRACT In the subfamily Polistinae, caste dimorphism is not pronounced and differences among fe... more ABSTRACT In the subfamily Polistinae, caste dimorphism is not pronounced and differences among females are primarily physiological and behavioral. We investigated factors that indicate the reproductive status in females of Polistes ferreri Saussure. We analyzed females from nine colonies and evaluated morphometric parameters, ovarian development, occurrence of insemination, relative age, and cuticular chemical profile. The colony females showed three kinds of ovarian development: type A, filamentous ovarioles; type B, ovarioles containing partially developed oocytes; and type C, long and well-developed ovarioles containing two or more mature oocytes. The stepwise discriminant analysis of the cuticular chemical profile showed that it was possible to distinguish the three groups of females: workers 1, workers 2, and queens. However, the stepwise discriminant analysis of the morphological differences did not show significant differences among these groups. The queens were among the older females in the colony and were always inseminated, while the age of the workers varied according to the stage of colony development.

Sociobiology, 2014

RF torres 1 , VO torres 1 , YR súarez 2 , WF antonialli-junior 2 Introduction Eusocial wasps are ... more RF torres 1 , VO torres 1 , YR súarez 2 , WF antonialli-junior 2 Introduction Eusocial wasps are represented by 29 genera in the Neotropical region, 22 of which are recorded in Brazil (Carpenter & Marques, 2001). These wasps occupy many kinds of habitats, primarily associated with human constructions (Lima et al., 2000; Prezoto et al., 2007), i.e., show a high degree of synanthropy (Fowler, 1983). Among the numerous factors that contribute to the success of social wasps, the colony productivity stands out. Productivity depends on ecological factors including changes in temperature, prey availability, and number of founders, among others (Gamboa et al., 2005; Inagawa et al., 2001). According to Gamboa (1978), for example, colonies of Polistes metricus (Say) founded by association are more productive than those initiated by a single female. Tibbetts & Reeve (2003) found that Polistes dominula (Christ) colonies initiated by association better Abstract Currently, the main impacts on biodiversity are generated by human activities in natural environments. Monitoring the number of species of social wasps nesting attached to buildings is important to evaluate the effect of this activity on colony productivity. This study evaluated the effect of habitat alteration, particularly by human activity on the productivity of colonies of the wasp Polistes versicolor. We evaluated 20 abandoned nests and compared the productivity parameters: number of cells constructed, number of adults produced, nest dry mass, proportion of productive cells, number of generations, and diameter of the petiole. Most of these parameters showed higher values in the colonies nesting in the habitat less altered by human activity. Therefore, productivity was significantly higher in this habitat. In the nests, regardless of the site, the cells that were central and closer to the petiole were the most productive. Colonies in the two habitats used different strategies: in the habitat more altered by human activity, the wasps invested more in reusing cells than in enlarging the nest. However, the species continues to nest in the urban area, probably because of decreased interspecific competition, predation, and interference from climate variations.

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2009

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2009

Polistes é um gênero que compreende as vespas consideradas menos derivadas, de fundação independe... more Polistes é um gênero que compreende as vespas consideradas menos derivadas, de fundação independente e sem diferenças morfológicas entre castas que constroem ninhos com um único favo descoberto e fixo ao substrato por um pedúnculo e que apresenta relativamente poucos indivíduos na colônia (Jeanne 1980). Colônias de vespas do gênero Polistes podem ser iniciadas por uma única (haplometrose), ou associação (pleometrose) de fêmeas fecundadas, padrões esses descritos para as espécies de fundação independente (Strassmann 1981; Reeve 1991). Em fundação pleometrótica, depois de estabelecido a colônia, uma única fêmea torna-se a rainha e realiza todo o trabalho reprodutivo (Wilson 1971). Ciclos coloniais de vespas desse gênero são sincrônicos com as estações do ano e relativamente curtos para regiões de clima temperado, onde as estações anuais bem definidas determinam que fundações e abandonos ocorram em períodos específicos do ano (Jeanne 1980). Observações sobre o ciclo colonial de espécies de região de clima temperado mostram que as fundações tendem a ocorrer em meados da primavera e o abandono ao final do outono e início do inverno (Gamboa et al. 1991). Entretanto, em regiões de clima tropical, as colônias apresentam ciclos assincrônicos em relação às estações do ano, podendo ocorrer, em uma mesma Aspectos bionômicos da vespa social Neotropical Polistes canadensis canadensis (Linnaeus) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Journal of Insect Science, 2012

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Journal of Insect Science, 2012

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access t... more BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia

As a result of environmental change by anthropic action, animal species that inhabit these areas ... more As a result of environmental change by anthropic action, animal species that inhabit these areas may suffer the effects of it on their phenotypes as a consequence of adapting to these conditions. In the case of social wasps, cuticular chemical compounds may be influenced, since these vary depending on genetic and environmental factors. However, few studies have investigated the synanthropic effects over the cuticular surface of social wasps. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how cuticular compounds vary according to the different degrees of human activity and test the hypothesis that cuticular compounds of social wasps are affected by the level of anthropic activity in which their nests are found. Data on the cuticular chemical compounds composition of colonies of 3 species of social wasps were used along with the level of anthropization of their nesting sites in four municipalities in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. From the geographical coordinates of th...

Sociobiology, 2014

Introduction An important feature for the ecological success of social insects is the division of... more Introduction An important feature for the ecological success of social insects is the division of labor among individuals in their colonies (Wilson, 1985). For this reason, many investigators have devoted their efforts to elucidate the parameters that determine this division, especially the distinction and determination of the caste (Robinson, 1992; O'Donnell, 1995; O'Donnell, 1998). The subfamily Polistinae has characteristics that are important to understand how the social behavior has evolved in the wasps (Ross & Matthews, 1991). The degree of morphological differences among castes in this group can range from total absence (Richards, 1971; Strassmann et al., 2002) to sharp differences among castes (Jeanne, 1991). This, indeed, may be a key feature in the evolution of social insects, since the presence of wide differentiation among castes indicates a higher degree of sociality (Bourke, 1999). In the basal Polistinae such as Mischocyttarus and Polistes, females are distinguished by their behavior, dominance hierarchy, degree of ovarian development and/or their Abstract A fundamental feature in the evolution of social insects is the separation of castes, and the presence of wide differentiation between castes indicates a more advanced degree of sociability. In this study, we evaluated factors indicating the reproductive status of females in colonies of the social wasp Polistes versicolor. The reproductive status of each female was examined by measuring nine morphometric characters, by tracing the cuticular chemical profile, by evidence of insemination and by recording the relative age. We conclude that P. versicolor colonies present 3 female groups according to cuticular chemical profile difference. The first group is made of females with filamentous ovarioles, typical of workers; the second one is females with intermediate ovarioles; and the third group is the group of the queens, which are older females, already inseminated and with the greatest degree of ovarian development. No significant external morphological differences were found among these female groups. Therefore, despite the lack of significant morphological differences among females, there are other factors such as the chemical composition of the cuticula, which are indicative of the reproductive physiological condition of the female in the colony.

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 2011

Revista Brasileira de Entomologia

Orbital: The Electronic Journal of Chemistry