Summary
By means of ovariectomy it was possible to separate social and reproductive dominance in foundresses ofP. gallicus. Ovariectomized foundresses could achieve and maintain the dominant position. Characteristics of social dominance (time on nest, low contribution to food collecting, dominance behaviour) were found not to be connected to the presence of ovaries. Reproductive dominance, however, did not occur in ovariectomized foundresses. Ovariectomized dominant females did not nihibit egg-formation in subordinates to the same degree as intact dominant females did and they did not show differential oophagy. For both characteristics the presence of active ovaries is necessary.
Resume
L'ovariectomie des fondatrices deP. gallicus permet de distinguer une dominance sociale d'une dominance de reproduction. Les fondatrices ovariectomisées peuvent acquérir un rang dominant et le conserver. Les caractéristiques de la dominance sociale (temps passé au nid, faible récolte de nourriture, comportement de dominance) ne sont pas liées a la présence des ovaires. Par contre, les ovariectomisées ne manifestent pas de dominance de reproduction. Elles n'inhibent pas la formation des œufs des subordonnées avec la même intensité que les dominantes intactes; elles ne pratiquent pas d'oophagie différentielle. Ces deux caractères impliquent la présence d'ovaires actifs.
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In 1979 it was proposed that the namegallicus should be changed todominulus andgallicus should be transferred tofoederatus. However, the switch of a well known name to another species only leads to confusion. Therefore, in the present paper the traditional nameP. gallicus is used.
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Röseler, P.F., Röseler, I. Dominance of ovariectomized foundresses of the paper wasp,Polistes gallicus . Ins. Soc 36, 219–234 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226305
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02226305