Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)

Division of labor in Epiponini is associated with age polyethism and individual task specialization. We observed worker activities in three colonies of Metapoybia miltoni in Brazil. We analyzed differences of task allocation between age groups. Old workers tend to forage more than young, but age po...

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Main Authors: Laura Chavarría, Fernando Barbosa Noll
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana 2013-06-01
Series:Sociobiology
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Online Access:https://www.periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/148
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author Laura Chavarría
Fernando Barbosa Noll
author_facet Laura Chavarría
Fernando Barbosa Noll
author_sort Laura Chavarría
collection DOAJ
description Division of labor in Epiponini is associated with age polyethism and individual task specialization. We observed worker activities in three colonies of Metapoybia miltoni in Brazil. We analyzed differences of task allocation between age groups. Old workers tend to forage more than young, but age polyethism was less evident in other tasks. Age composition of population could be a determinant factor in task allocation. Possibly workers are allocate to perform tasks according to colony needs, and no to individual’s age. Consider age population in studies of division of labor could help to understand how colonies respond to different situations.
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spelling doaj-art-9666e5f39fe340a9a09a8bfa5b18abca2025-08-20T01:58:19ZengUniversidade Estadual de Feira de SantanaSociobiology0361-65252447-80672013-06-01602Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)Laura Chavarría0Fernando Barbosa Noll1FFCLRP- Universidade de São PauloIBILCE-UNESP, São José do Rio Preto Division of labor in Epiponini is associated with age polyethism and individual task specialization. We observed worker activities in three colonies of Metapoybia miltoni in Brazil. We analyzed differences of task allocation between age groups. Old workers tend to forage more than young, but age polyethism was less evident in other tasks. Age composition of population could be a determinant factor in task allocation. Possibly workers are allocate to perform tasks according to colony needs, and no to individual’s age. Consider age population in studies of division of labor could help to understand how colonies respond to different situations. https://www.periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/148social waspsdivision of laborworkers
spellingShingle Laura Chavarría
Fernando Barbosa Noll
Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
Sociobiology
social wasps
division of labor
workers
title Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
title_full Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
title_fullStr Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
title_full_unstemmed Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
title_short Age polyethism in the swarm-founding wasp Metapolybia miltoni (Andena & Carpenter) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae; Polistinae, Epiponini)
title_sort age polyethism in the swarm founding wasp metapolybia miltoni andena carpenter hymenoptera vespidae polistinae epiponini
topic social wasps
division of labor
workers
url https://www.periodicos.uefs.br/index.php/sociobiology/article/view/148
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AT fernandobarbosanoll agepolyethismintheswarmfoundingwaspmetapolybiamiltoniandenacarpenterhymenopteravespidaepolistinaeepiponini