Sen, R and Gadagkar, R (2010) Natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): a comparison of the two sexes. In: Journal of Natural History, 44 (15-16). pp. 959-968.
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We report the natural history and behaviour of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata with a special reference to the males. We found that just as nests of this species are found throughout the year, so are the males. Females spend all their life in their nests but males stay in their natal nests only for 1-12 days and leave to lead a nomadic life. Males maintained in the laboratory can live for up to 140 days. Like all eusocial hymenopteran males, R. marginata males also do not perform any colony maintenance activities. We found that males did not forage or feed larvae. Compared with females, males showed fewer dominance and subordinate behaviours and being solicited behaviour and more feeding self and soliciting behaviours. By comparing males with young females, we found similar differences, except that the males showed similar rates of feeding self and higher rates of subordinate behaviour.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Journal of Natural History |
| Publisher: | Taylor and Francis Group |
| Additional Information: | Copyright of this article belongs to Taylor and Francis Group. |
| Keywords: | Ropalidia marginata;male behaviour;comparison of males'and females'lifespans;primitively eusocial |
| Department/Centre: | Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 12 Jul 2010 11:01 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Jul 2010 11:01 |
| URI: | http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/28955 |
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