Journal of Entomology and Zoology.
by Horace Gunthorp and Charles P. Alexander and W. A. Hilton.
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THE JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY AND ZOOLOGY William A. Hilton, Editor Claremont, California, U. S. A.
Notes on the Behavior of the Social Wasp Polistes
HORACE GUNTHORP
Washburn College, Topeka, Kans.
One day last September the writer picked up a nest of the common social wasp, _Polistes_, which had been detached from its support, and placed it upon his desk. A short time later he was attracted by a scratching sound, and discovered that one of the wasps was just beginning to cut the cap from its cell preparatory to emerging. During the next few days a series of observations were made and notes taken covering the behavior of the wasps which emerged from their cells during that period. Miss Enteman[A] has made a careful study of the instincts of the social wasps, and while the observations recorded in the present paper are largely corroborative of her work, some interesting details are here added.
The cutting of the cap of the cell occupied some time, and extended around four-fifths of its circ.u.mference, the remaining one-fifth being gnawed and partially chewed through so that it was flexible enough to act as a hinge for the cap. After the cap was sufficiently cut away, the wasp started to slowly work itself out, pushing up the top of the cell like a trap door as progress was made. A good deal of effort was required to get the body out until the front legs were freed. Then the wasp had more purchase and progress was somewhat faster until the second pair of legs came out. After this slight effort seemed to be necessary for the completion of the operation.
For the next thirty minutes careful observations were made of the movements of this wasp in order to ascertain its first reactions. It is evident that they would be somewhat modified from what they are here recorded if the colony had contained the queen and other workers, as this specimen had the run of the entire nest, and none of its movements were effected by those of other individuals. It is equally evident that all stimuli came from within, or from contact with the nest, and not from suggestions received from other individuals or from contact with them. The following is the record made at one minute intervals, beginning with the time the specimen left its cell:
8:06. Specimen emerged from its cell.
8:07. Cleaned its front legs in its mouth and its antennae with its front legs.
8:08. Moved around some. Rubbed its wings with its hind legs and spread them out twice.
8:09. Cleaned antennae and front legs.
8:10. Swung abdomen back and forth, and brushed its wings.
Moved around the nest rapidly and waved the antennae, but all movements were jerky.
8:11. Explored nest, occasionally rubbing abdomen with legs.
8:12. Explored nest.
8:13. Explored nest. Movements unsteady. Cleaned antennae and front legs.
8:14. Explored nest, in the course of which it went over the edge on to the back side, but immediately returned to the under side. Cleaned the front legs and antennae, and then the hind legs.
8:15. Spread out the wings. Cleaned the antennae.
8:16. Cleaned abdomen.
8:17. Crawled on top or back side of nest again and stayed there. Cleaned wings and abdomen.
8:18. Explored top. Cleaned front legs and antennae.
8:19. Stood still. Occasional movement of head, antennae or abdomen.
8:20. Same as 8:19.
8:21. Began to explore again, becoming quite lively. Antennae constantly waving.
8:22. Same as 8:21, but extended its travels to the under (cell) side of the nest.
8:23. Left the nest entirely and began to walk around the surface of the desk.
8:24. Started to climb a bottle that was some six inches from the nest. Antennae still waving.
8:25. On the neck of the bottle, two inches above the surface of the desk. Cleaned front legs and antennae.
8:26. Quiet except that it spread its wings once.
8:27. Still on neck of bottle. Moved its head and antennae back and forth.
8:28. Slight change in position. Antennae were still waving.
Rubbed its wings, spread them, and then rubbed them again.
8:29. Rubbed its hind legs together vigorously.
8:30. Spread wings once, then rubbed them and the abdomen with the hind legs. Rubbed the hind legs together, and finally rubbed the right wings vigorously.
8:31. Moved around some, occasionally stopping to rub the right wings.
8:32. Explored the neck of the bottle.
8:33. Same as 8:32. Cleaned antennae.
8:34. Same as 8:33.
8:35. Stood still but continued to clean antennae and front legs.