Paternity, reproduction and conflict in vespine wasps: a model system for testing kin selection predictions

The Vespinac wasps (Vespa, Provespa, Dolichovespula, and Vespula) are an ex cellent group for testing kin selection predictions. There is considerable variation in kin structure and conflict resolution in a group of known phyl ogeny where all species have a similar basic biology: morphologically disti nct queens and workers, and annual nests headed by a single queen. Vespine kin structure can be described by a single variable "effective paternity", which is defined by queen mating frequency and sperm use. Low effective pat ernity, which causes high worker relatedness, is basal in the group (Vespa, Dolichovespula), with high paternity (ca >2) restricted to Vespula whose q ueens mate more and use sperm more equally. Paternity variation correlates well with observed patterns of reproduction and conflict. As predicted by t heory, male production by workers is common in Dolichovespula but not in Ve spula where worker policing occurs (Vespula vulgaris). The theory is also s upported by intercolony variation in Dolichovespula, with facultative worke r policing (Dolichovespula saxonica) and sex allocation biasing by workers (D. arenaria) occurring in response to paternity. In addition, queen loss i n reproductive colonies of nine species is negatively correlated with pater nity, in line with the prediction that matricide is only expected at low pa ternity. However, paternity does not explain the reproductive characteristi cs of Vespa crabro. Although paternity in Ir crabro is only 1.1, the same a s the mean in six Dolichovespula species, its reproductive behaviour is dif ferent from Dolichovespula. More like Vespula, V. crabro has worker policin g, workers that rarely have active ovaries, and little queen loss in reprod uctive-phase colonies.