COMPARATIVE COLONY PRODUCTIVITY OF POLISTES-SIMILLIMUS AND POLISTES-VERSICOLOR (HYMENOPTERA, VESPIDAE) AND THE EVOLUTION OF PARAGYNY IN THEPOLISTINAE

Over a 3-year period, all colony foundations of the social wasps Polis tes versicolor and Polistes simillimus were registered, and the fate a nd growth of all colonies were followed. P. simillimus exhibited a gre ater number of colony-founding attempts, while P. versicolor had a lar ger number of adult colonies. P. simillimus had greater cell numbers a nd number of adults produced per colony. P. simillimus reutilized only a small percentage of brood cells for adult production for up to 2 ge nerations, while P. versicolor reutilized a large percentage of brood cells for up to 3 generations. Consequently, cell production was highe r in P. simillimus. Because of a high rate of adult production and ext ensive cell production, we suggest that P. simillimus may demonstrate paragynous social organization, and may demonstrate an intermediate fo rm between polygynous and monogynous Vespidae. Paragynous associations may lead to lower predation pressures and a relative independence of adult production on time.