Nest recognition in neighboring colonies: a comparison of two European species of Polistes wasps (P-dominulus and P-nimphus, Hymenoptera : Vespidae)

The ability of two species of Polistes wasps to distinguish their own from nearby nests was tested, following the procedure used by Espelie et al. Our experiments demonstrated that, in the laboratory, females of Polistes domi nulus anti Polistes nimphus preferentially selected their own nests rather than nearby nests. We also evaluated the role of odor cues in nest recognit ion by washing nests in hexane to remove the apolar solvent-soluble compone nts of nest odor. Although P. nimphus females continued to discriminate nes ts even after washing, P. dominulus individuals Failed to discriminate betw een their own and a foreign neighboring nest. In both species, wasps were a ble to recognize their own nests when nest extracts were subsequently reapp lied to the nest surface. These results indicate that P. dominulus wasps re cognize their nests through perception of nest odor. The ability of P. nimp hus wasps to distinguish their own nests even after presumed removal of the nest odor is discussed.