Costs, benefits, and plasticity of construction of nest defensive structures in paper wasps

摘要: Various animals build nests with defensive structures to deter predation on offspring. Construction of nest can reduce the probability but will involve various costs. Here, we examined both costs and benefits construction a structure in paper wasp, Polistes chinensis antennalis, clarify whether wasp changes level depending risk. A foundress (queen) starts colony spring maintains her alone until emergence workers. At this stage, pupae are sometimes preyed by conspecifics other nests. The intruder needs break cocoon, which seals entrance cell, extract pupa from cell. Foundresses often apply material (pulp) surface cocoons their We found that pulp cocoon increased time an required cocoon. This result shows helps prevent pupae. On hand, involved costs, including collect being potential obstacle workers Additionally, amount was greater under higher risk than lower These results suggest is structure, foundresses adjusted