Linking the Morphology of Sternal Glands to Rubbing Behavior by Vespa soror (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Workers During Recruitment for Group Predation

Author:

Mattila Heather R1ORCID,Shimano Satoshi2,Otis Gard W3,Nguyen Lien T P4,Maul Erica R1,Billen Johan5

Affiliation:

1. Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA

2. Science Research Center, Hosei University, Fujimi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

3. School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

4. Insect Ecology Department, Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Nghia Do, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam

5. Zoological Institute, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Abstract The activities of social insect colonies are supported by exocrine glands and the tremendous functional diversity of the compounds that they secrete. Many social wasps in the subfamilies Vespinae and Polistinae have two sternal glands—the van der Vecht and Richards’ glands—that vary in their features and function across the species in which they are found. Field observations suggest that giant hornets use secretions from the van der Vecht gland to chemically mark targeted nests when workers initiate group attacks on social insect prey. However, descriptions of giant hornets’ sternal glands and details about their recruitment behavior are lacking. We describe the morphology of the sternal glands of the giant hornet Vespa soror du Buysson and consider their potential to contribute to a marking pheromone. We also assess the gastral rubbing behavior of workers as they attacked Apis cerana F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies. V. soror workers have well-developed van der Vecht and Richards’ glands on their terminal gastral sternites, with morphologies that robustly support the synthesis, storage, and dissemination of their secretory products. Observations confirm that the van der Vecht gland is exposed during gastral rubbing, but that the Richards’ gland and glands associated with the sting apparatus may also contribute to a marking pheromone. Workers briefly but repeatedly rubbed their gasters around hive entrances and on overhead vegetation. Colonies were heavily marked over consecutive attacks. Our findings provide insight into the use of exocrine secretions by giant hornets as they recruit nestmates to prey colonies for group attacks.

Funder

National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration

Vietnam National Foundation for Science and Technology Development

Wellesley College

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Insect Science

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