Assinatura química cuticular como ferramenta para indicar status reprodutivo e relações entre vespas Polistinae (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Abstract

The Polistinae family calls the attention of several researchers since it is constituted by social wasp species which may help in understanding the eusocial behavior evolution. Because of this, many studies about basic biology, behavior, systematics and phylogenetic relationships have been performed. Nowadays it is worth being highlighted studies involving molecular sequences and cuticular hydrocarbon profile in order to establish intra-and interspecific relationships. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the joined use of sequences from cytochrome C oxidase I gene and chemical compounds from the cuticle and the nests to infer relationships among Polistinae wasps species. We also assessed the use of these compounds from the cuticle to indicate the females hierarchical position and therefore, mediate the interactions among them in their colonies. The results of the genetic distance neighborjoining tree generated from COI gene sequences have grouped Epiponini, Polistini and Mischocyttarini congruently with the phylogenetic relationships currently proposed, even for subgenera and species. The cuticle chemical profile only pointed closer relationship with the current phylogeny and also with the genetic matrix when species with larger colonies collected in different environments were assessed. The chemical composition of adult cuticle and the nest substrate can be used for analyzes of intra and interspecific relationships; the chemical elements that compose the nest substrate is also part of the chemical composition of the adult cuticle; moreover, nest and adult substrate chemical profile variation varies according to the type of environment in which the colonies nest. In both colonies Polistes versicolor and Polistes ferreri, 3 female categories could be identified by their cuticle chemical composes which are related to different physiological conditions of its ovaries although as in most species of this group, there is no significant morphological differences among them. Therefore, the results of this work demonstrate that the cuticle chemical compounds can be used to infer intra and interspecific relationships among social wasp species, especially when supplementing with molecular techniques. The nests chemical composition is directly related to adults and it may vary according to the environment and therefore it can be used to assess differences among populations. Finally, as it has already been reported in other studies, even though no morphological differences among females of wasps colonies of the genus Polistes, they probably recognize their reproductive status, and therefore, their hierarchical position in the colonies, also by these cuticular compounds.