Amino acid composition of the protein in preemergence nests of Polistes (Polistes) riparius, and its similarity to the consubgeneric wasp, P. (P.) chinensis (Hymenoptera : Vespidae)

Amino acid composition of the protein in the oral secretion, which is widel y used for construction and maintenance of social wasp nests, was analyzed in preemergence nests of Polistes (Polistes) riparius. The kinds and propor tion (%) of amino acids of the protein detected from nests of P. riparius w ere very similar to those of a consubgeneric species, P. (P.) chinensis, bu t were conspicuously different from those of other social wasp genera. Furt her, it was estimated that protein contents in oral secretion of P. ripariu s were nearly the same as those of P. chinensis; namely, foundresses of P. riparius, which build much larger nests than those of P. chinensis, did not reduce relative protein contents to produce more oral secretion at a small er cost. Amino acid composition may reflect phylogenetic relationships amon g wasp taxa.