1983] 
Ross & Visscher — Polygynous Vespula 
189 
Summary 
We describe a polygynous, overwintering colony of Vespula 
maculifrons from central Florida. The nest contained about 100,000 
cells; many brood of all castes, at all developmental stages; over 
8000 adult workers and 3000 adult males; and 23 adult queens, at 
least six of which were functional egg-layers. Supernumerary eggs 
were found in 7000 of the small cells, often placed high on the cell 
walls. Of 100 workers dissected, 14 exhibited substantially devel- 
oped ovaries and had probably been laying eggs. 
With this report, all non-parasitic neartic species of the subgenus 
Paravespula are known to occasionally exhibit this unusual life his- 
tory, in contrast to the uniformly monogynous, annual species in the 
subgenus Vespula. Paravespula also exhibit more plasticity in their 
nesting and foraging habits. We discuss the ability of perennial 
colonies to tolerate multiple queens and relate this ability to the 
question of the evolution of eusociality in the Polistinae+Vespinae. 
Acknowledgements 
We thank Chester Winegarner for discovering the colony, moni- 
toring its survival, and helping in excavation. James M. Carpenter 
and George C. Eickwort reviewed the manuscript and made helpful 
suggestions. We thank James Layne and Archbold Expeditions for 
use of the facilities of the Archbold Biological Station, and for a 
grant-in-aid to the junior author. Additional funding through NIH 
grant 5 ROl All 601 1-03, Vespid Venom Collection, awarded to Dr. 
Roger A. Morse. 
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