Behavior Eastern yellowjacket

1 behavior

1.1 communication
1.2 mating behavior

1.2.1 male/male interactions
1.2.2 female/male interactions

behavior
communication

for v. maculifrons workers communicate others in nest potential predator, have alarm pheromone stimulates defense. pheromone linked sting apparatus , prompts attraction , attack. when alarm pheromone expressed, wasps around nest entrance typically seen circling, outlining zigzagging flight, , going directly towards target. however, foragers not @ nest when pheromone expressed not respond in similar manner. facultative social parasite of v. maculifrons, vespula squamosa, responds alarm response of v. maculifrons, suggesting common chemistry between pheromones. since v. squamosa known take on nests of v. maculifrons, selection v. squamosa favors ability recognize , respond alarm calls within nest.

mating behavior
male/male interactions

males of v. maculifrons tend form loose aggregations, resembling leks, during mating. in 1 area, hundreds thousands of males patrol prominent trees , bushes flying around them. males typically patrol large areas randomly, rather limiting few trees. if male sees female while patrolling, flies closer female in zigzag fashion , stops on nearby leaf. allows male climb onto female’s gaster behind. other males not try approach ongoing copulation, male might try copulate after. if second mating occurs, sperm competition may favor second male. result, males can prevent competition male elongating copulation.

female/male interactions

a queen capable of mating starting 48 hours after emerging pupal stage. find male, queens fly trees , bushes males form aggregations. males groom legs, antennae, , gasters throughout courtship, mating, , after contact queen. queens have been seen groom face , antennae, briefly. @ end of copulation, queen able produce olfactory or contact pheromone signal release male. queen begins nibble dorsal surface of male’s gaster further signal end of copulation. since both queens , males can mate multiple times, queen’s signals advantageous if spermatheca full, thereby preventing waste of resources , time. male having strong genitalic locks mating advantageous, due male-male competition, can cause problems during disengagement. in laboratory, both females , males have died during disengagement, leaving reproductive ends attached opposite sex.