Mecanismos controladores da determinação de casta em vespas sociais de fundação independente: efeito da aplicação tópica de hormônio juvenil em larvas de Mischocyttarus consimilis

Abstract

In colonies of social insects there is a pronounced division of tasks, which the reproductive function is exercised by the queen. Phenotypic divergence based on differential ontogeny is known by plays an important role in division of reproductive labor among the castes in the social insects. However, the mechanisms controlling the caste determination in social groups less advanced stay largely unknown. Thus, this work tested the hypothesis that caste determination in the social wasp of foundation independent Mischocyttarus consimilis is controlled by juvenile hormone (JH) in pre-imaginal stage. To answer that subject were made studies with colonies in field conditions, as well as in experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that body size is important variable influencing in the establishment of reproductive hierarchy among founders, as well as affecting reproductive physiologic those females. This species, workers and gines emerge with significant differences in body size. In addition, was demonstrated that HJ plays an important role in pre-imaginal caste determination, as well as its instar-dependent effect. Females that emerged of treated larvae with HJ in instar-third were higher in the adult stage and showed different behavior compared to females that emerged from non-treated larvae. These results therefore, presents evidence that caste determination in this species may occur at least in part in pre-imaginal stage, corroborating with recent hypotheses that claim the caste determination in social insects less advanced occurs in pre-adult stage.