The mechanism of nestmate discrimination in the tropical social wasp Ropalidia marginata and its implications for the evolution of sociality (original) (raw)

We have demonstrated that females of widespread phenomenon. The ability to discrimithe primitively eusocial tropical wasp Ropalidia nate kin from non-kin has been reported in marine marginata can discriminate nestmates from non-invertebrates, subsocial arthropods, sweat bees, nestmates outside the context of their nests. This honey bees, several species of ants and wasps, was accomplished by recording all behavioural in-fishes, frogs, toads, iguanas, birds and a variety teractions in a neutral arena and comparing toler-of mammals (reviews in Fletcher and Michener ance levels. In order for these wasps to make such 1986; Gadagkar 1985b; Gamboa et al. 1986a; a discrimination, howeyer, it was essential that Hepper 1986; Holldobler and Michener 1980; Linafter eclosion both the discriminated and the dis-senmair 1985; Sherman and Holmes 1985; Waldcriminating animals were exposed to their respec-man 1987); for the iguana see Werner et al. ; tive natal nests and nestmates. The results suggest for the fish see Quinn and Busack (1985); for the that both recognition labels and templates are ac-marine invertebrates see Grosberg and Quinn quired by the animals from sources outside their (1986) and Keough (1984). body, perhaps from their nest or nestmates. It is