Nutrition induced direct fitness for workers in a primitively eusocial wasp

Krishnan, J. U. and Brahma, A. and Chavan, S. K. and Gadagkar, R. (2021) Nutrition induced direct fitness for workers in a primitively eusocial wasp. In: Insectes Sociaux, 68 (4). pp. 319-325.

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Preview	PDF (Krishnan, J.U. et al., 2021. Nutrition induced direct fitness for workers in a primitively eusocial wasp. Insect. Soc. 68, 319–325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00040-021-00835-3 https://rdcu.be/cAL8Y Krishnan - et al - 2021 - Nutrition induced direct fitness) Krishnan - et al - 2021 - Nutrition induced direct fitness for workers in a primitively eusocial wasp.pdf - Published Version Download (893kB) | Preview

Abstract

Eusocial insects are characterised by a reproductive caste differentiation such that egg-laying is restricted to a small number of queens. The majority of the colony members function as non-reproducing workers and gain indirect fitness by rearing the offspring of the reproductives. In primitively eusocial species, some workers can also get direct fitness by sneaking in some eggs in the presence of the queens, replacing the queens and becoming new queens, or initiating new nests. Here we aimed to understand the factors that permit some workers to gain direct fitness and alter the number of workers doing so, using the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata. We transplanted 12 naturally occurring colonies into large laboratory cages where there was adequate space for the workers to leave their natal nests and initiate new colonies. We compared six control colonies that we provided with ad libitum food placed near the nest to six test colonies in which we hand-fed the wasps in addition to the ad libitum food. Wasps in test colonies consumed more food, showed more aggression, replaced their queens, and initiated new nests significantly more often than those in control colonies. When considering all 12 colonies, the rates of queen replacement and nest foundation were significantly positively correlated with food consumption rates. The additional nutrition gained by hand-fed wasps appears to help workers in test colonies to develop their ovaries and lay eggs, implying that they are nutritionally castrated in control colonies.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Insectes Sociaux
Publisher:	Springer Nature
Additional Information:	Supplementary Information included with this submission.
Keywords:	Nutrition, Direct fitness, Nest foundation, Queen turnover, Social wasp, Ropalidia marginata
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Centre for Ecological Sciences
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2021 08:41
Last Modified:	03 Dec 2021 08:41
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/70473

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