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Forager success increases with experience inPolybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

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Summary

Foragers of the neotropical swarm-founding waspPolybia occidentalis showed improved task performance, as indicated by foraging success rate, with foraging age. Foragers also spent significantly more time in the field on foraging trips as they aged, while foraging rate did not change with age. These patterns were not explained by directional changes in resource availability or colony need over time. We compare these results to earlier findings on changes in task performance with experience in social insect foragers, and suggest that increases in forager persistence in the field explain improved foraging success with experience.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, WI, USA

    S. O'Donnell & R. L. Jeanne

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  1. S. O'Donnell
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  2. R. L. Jeanne
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O'Donnell, S., Jeanne, R.L. Forager success increases with experience inPolybia occidentalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). Ins. Soc 39, 451–454 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240628

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01240628

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