Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts

Social parasites have evolved adaptations to overcome host resistance as they infiltrate host colonies and establish there. Among the chemical adaptations, a few species are chemically “insignificant”; they are poor in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and evade host detection. As cuticular...

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Autor principal:	Maria Cristina Lorenzi
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	water balance cuticular hydrocarbons paper wasps <i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i> <i>Polistes biglumis</i> heat stress Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/c6b4caa252bf4c70b0c08b7c1880fd13
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:c6b4caa252bf4c70b0c08b7c1880fd132021-11-25T17:59:36ZChemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts10.3390/insects121110062075-4450https://doaj.org/article/c6b4caa252bf4c70b0c08b7c1880fd132021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/12/11/1006https://doaj.org/toc/2075-4450Social parasites have evolved adaptations to overcome host resistance as they infiltrate host colonies and establish there. Among the chemical adaptations, a few species are chemically “insignificant”; they are poor in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and evade host detection. As cuticular hydrocarbons also serve a waterproofing function, chemical insignificance is beneficial as it protects parasites from being detected but is potentially harmful because it exposes parasites to desiccation stress. Here I tested whether the social parasites <i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i> employ behavioral water-saving strategies when they live at <i>Polistes biglumis</i> colonies. Observations in the field showed that parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadowy, back face of the nest, rather than at the front face, which contradicted expectations for the use of space for dominant females—typically, dominants rest at the nest front-face. These data suggest that behavioral adaptations might promote resistance to desiccation stress in chemical insignificant social parasites.Maria Cristina LorenziMDPI AGarticlewater balancecuticular hydrocarbonspaper wasps<i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i><i>Polistes biglumis</i>heat stressScienceQENInsects, Vol 12, Iss 1006, p 1006 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	water balance cuticular hydrocarbons paper wasps <i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i> <i>Polistes biglumis</i> heat stress Science Q
spellingShingle	water balance cuticular hydrocarbons paper wasps <i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i> <i>Polistes biglumis</i> heat stress Science Q Maria Cristina Lorenzi Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
description	Social parasites have evolved adaptations to overcome host resistance as they infiltrate host colonies and establish there. Among the chemical adaptations, a few species are chemically “insignificant”; they are poor in recognition cues (cuticular hydrocarbons) and evade host detection. As cuticular hydrocarbons also serve a waterproofing function, chemical insignificance is beneficial as it protects parasites from being detected but is potentially harmful because it exposes parasites to desiccation stress. Here I tested whether the social parasites <i>Polistes atrimandibularis</i> employ behavioral water-saving strategies when they live at <i>Polistes biglumis</i> colonies. Observations in the field showed that parasites were less active than their cohabiting host foundresses, spent more time at the nest, and rested in the shadowy, back face of the nest, rather than at the front face, which contradicted expectations for the use of space for dominant females—typically, dominants rest at the nest front-face. These data suggest that behavioral adaptations might promote resistance to desiccation stress in chemical insignificant social parasites.
format	article
author	Maria Cristina Lorenzi
author_facet	Maria Cristina Lorenzi
author_sort	Maria Cristina Lorenzi
title	Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
title_short	Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
title_full	Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
title_fullStr	Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
title_full_unstemmed	Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts
title_sort	chemically insignificant social parasites exhibit more anti-dehydration behaviors than their hosts
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/c6b4caa252bf4c70b0c08b7c1880fd13
work_keys_str_mv	AT mariacristinalorenzi chemicallyinsignificantsocialparasitesexhibitmoreantidehydrationbehaviorsthantheirhosts
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Chemically Insignificant Social Parasites Exhibit More Anti-Dehydration Behaviors than Their Hosts

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