Speed and accuracy in nest-mate recognition: a hover wasp prioritizes face recognition over colony odour cues to minimize intrusion by outsiders

摘要: Social insects have evolved sophisticated recognition systems enabling them to accept nest-mates but reject alien conspecifics. In the social wasp, Liostenogaster flavolineata (Stenogastrinae), individuals differ in their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles according colony membership; each female also possesses a unique (visual) facial pattern. This species represents model understand how vision and olfaction are integrated extent which wasps prioritize one channel over other discriminate aliens nest-mates. females able between nest-mate using patterns or chemical cues isolation. However, two sensory modalities not equally efficient discrimination of ‘friend’ from ‘foe’. Visual induce an increased number erroneous attacks on (false alarms), such quickly aborted never result serious injury. Odour cues, presented isolation, misses: acceptances outsiders. Interestingly, take relative efficiencies into account when making rapid decisions about membership individual: entirely ignored visual stimuli together. Thus, adopt strategy ‘err safe side’ by memorizing individual faces recognize members, disregarding odour minimize risk intrusion