C-6-4
NESTMATE RECOGNITION IN THE EUROPEAN HORNET VESPA CRABROL.
Joachim Ruther1 & Stefan Sieben2
1 Department of Applied Zoology/Animal Ecology, FreieUniversität Berlin D-12163 Berlin, Germany.
2 Department of Bee Research, Königin-Luise-Straße1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
The cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of the European hornet Vespacrabro L. (Hym., Vespidae) are colony-specific. We investigatedthe behavioral response of V. crabro workers against dead nestmatesand non-nestmates. The testing arena was integrated into the domain ofan intact nest. The hornets responded to non-nestmates with aggressivebehavior. Nestmates were tolerated or ignored. Removal of the cuticularhydrocarbons resulted in significant decrease of agonistic behavior againstnon-nestmates. Treatment of washed nestmate-dummies with cuticular extractsfrom non-nestmates induced aggressive behavior. Treatment of washed non-nestmate-dummieswith cuticular extracts from nestmates led to a significant decreaseof agonistic behavior. By GC-MS analysis 19 compounds were identified inthe cuticular extracts. Seven compounds have not yet been described incuticular extracts of V. crabro. Two terpenoid esters are chemicallyuntypical constituents of cuticular extracts. 16 compounds were also presentin the Dufour gland of V. crabro. The results strongly indicatethat cuticular hydrocarbons play a decisive role in nestmate recognitionof V. crabro.