Cuticular hydrocarbons determine sex, caste, and nest membership in each of four species of yellowjackets (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

摘要: Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of social insects have typically been studied for their roles in reproductive signaling (i.e., fertility) rather than sexual interest mating), resulting little information about CHCs males and virgin females. This dearth applies particularly to wasps. We tested the hypothesis that differentiate sex, caste, nest membership each four yellowjacket species (baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata; southern yellowjackets, Vespula squamosa; western V. pensylvanica; alascensis). Cold-euthanized queens (21), gynes (81), workers (125), (77) from 35 nests were extracted with pentane, 304 extracts was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) GC–mass spectrometry identify quantify CHC constituents (aliphatic alkanes alkenes; mono-, di-, tri-methyl-branched alkanes). To determine whether caste sex differ profiles wasps, linear discriminant analyses performed, using Z-transformed relative peak areas as predictor variables or nest, grouping variables. When used a variable, plots first two functions revealed wasps clustered into respective groups (queens, gynes, workers, males), significant differences group centroids, measured Wilks’ lambda. three (insufficient sample size pensylvanica) according nest. Diagnostic power calculations show greater inter-caste inter-nest variation. Our data support above inspire future studies definitive role(s) gyne- male-specific play context communication, perspective both