Influência do conflito de dominância entre fundadoras em colônias de vespas sociais pertencentes ao gênero Polistes (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE)

Resumo

The founding phase in Polistes spp. is characterized by intense disputes by the dominance reproductive among co-founding females. Studies of 25 colonies of Polistes versicolor and 17 colonies of P. ferreri in preemergence phase demonstrated high rate of immature’s mortality, mainly in the larva subfase (qx = 84.5% and 74.8%, respectively), although the construction process of cells has not been affected. The results suggest that the mortality and decline of the foundations are due to the intense migration of individuals among the nests as well as the energy reflow for posterior foundations in ideal environmental conditions.