Use of alternate founding strategies in a primitively eusocial wasp Polistes wattii

Abstract

The paper wasp genus Polistes (Hymenoptera:Vespidae), makes a salient model group for behavioural studies. This genus is abundantly found in both temperate and trop- ical climates. The nesting cycle varies according to the environment they live in. The tropical wasps remain active throughout the year while the temperate species use hi- bernation as a survival strategy during harsh winter. We studied the nesting cycle of one of the most commonly found species in north India: Polistes wattii. Although P. wattii is a tropical wasp, it follows a colony cycle similar to the temperate wasps, i.e. they go into hibernation during winter. In temperate environment, after hibernation new nests are initiated (founded) either by single female (single founding) or by mul- tiple females (multiple founding) and the nests grow till date summer. Polistes wattii shows a very different founding strategy compared to the usual temperate wasps. In spring the nests are always initiated by a single wasp, while in summer both single and multiple foundreses initiate nests. Here we present a comparitive analysis of dif- ferent founding strategies of P. wattii and show how they help the wasps maximize reproductive fitness.