THE ROLE OF AGE IN TEMPORAL POLYETHISM IN A PRIMITIVELY EUSOCIAL WASP

The relation of age to division of labor was assessed in a primitively eusocial wasp, Ropalidia marginata. The performance of four functiona lly significant tasks was analyzed. It was found that age has a defini te correlation with division of labor, since wasps performed tasks in a distinct sequence in their life with successive tasks being initiate d at significantly older ages. Age of a wasp was measured in absolute terms and also relative to other individuals in the colony. Probabilit y of performance of a given task relative to other tasks (PTP) and abs olute rates at which tasks were performed per unit time (FTP) both sho wed clear age-dependent patterns, confirming the association of age wi th division of labor. The proportion of variance explained for both PT P and FTP was significantly higher with relative age than with absolut e age. Interindividual interactions were found to be a potential mecha nism through which wasps can determine their relative age. The advanta ges of work organization depending on relative age and the constraints imposed by absolute age are discussed.