The nest as fortress: Defensive behavior of Polybia emaciata, a mud-nesting eusocial wasp

• Main Authors: Sean O'Donnell, Robert L. Jeanne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2002-02-01
• Series: Journal of Insect Science
• Subjects: Hymenoptera; Vespidae; Polybia occidentalis; retreat behavior
• Online Access: http://www.insectscience.org/2.3/

The swarm-founding wasp Polybia emaciata is unusual among eusocial Vespidae because it uses mud, rather than wood pulp, as its primary nest construction material. Polybia emaciata nests are more durable than similarly sized paper nests. We tested the hypothesis that the defensive behavior of this wasp may have been modified to take advantage of their strong nests in defense against vertebrate attacks. We simulated vertebrate disturbances by tapping on, and breathing in, P. emaciata. nests and similarly sized P. occidentalis paper nests in the same location at the same time. Polybia emaciata. responses to disturbance were qualitatively different from those of P. occidentalis. The latter exit the nest and attack, while P. emaciata. workers typically fled or entered the nest, attacking only after repeated and extended disturbances. We conclude that durable nest material may permit predator avoidance behavior in P. emaciata.. We compare the defensive responses of P. emaciata. workers with those of other swarm-founding Vespidae, and discuss several selective forces that could cause the evolution of species variation in nest defense behavior.