Temporal polyethism in korean yellowjacket foragers, vespula koreensis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)
- 주제(키워드) Foraging behavior , Temporal polyethism , Vespula , Yellowjackets
- 등재 SCIE, SCOPUS
- 발행기관 Masson Publishing
- 발행년도 2012
- 총서유형 Journal
- URI http://www.dcollection.net/handler/ewha/000000093497
- 본문언어 영어
- Published As http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00040-011-0212-8
초록/요약
We examined the foraging behavior of the Korean yellowjacket, Vespula koreensis, to determine whether this species displays temporal polyethism. Using video-recordings of the entrances of artificial nest boxes installed in the field, we investigated the association between the tasks performed by workers and age. We identified three foraging tasks (pulp, nectar and prey foraging). Pulp foraging was performed by younger foragers, while nectar and prey foraging were performed by older foragers. We measured the foraging time (time spent outside of the nest during a single foraging bout) and the weight of the materials that foragers brought into the nest for each task to estimate the cost of the task. Pulp foraging was less costly than nectar or prey foraging by both measures. Taken together, the results suggest that yellowjacket foragers tend to perform low-cost task in their early foraging days and high-cost task later. Our results add to a growing literature showing temporal polyethism in social insects. © International Union for the Study of Social Insects (IUSSI) 2011.
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