Caste and wing loading in a social wasp (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Dolichovespula maculata)

By

Starr, Christopher K., 1949-
Jacobson, Robert
Krispyn, Joan W
Spiers, Joshua

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

84

Pages

381--390

Subjects

allometry , Flight , polymorphism

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.84.68800

 

Abstract

Variation in wing design and wing loading according to body weight is well studied across taxa of birds and flying insects. Comparable studies have not been made in the few insects that show substantial size variation within the same phenon of a single species. We examine body measures of adults of the social waspDolichovespula maculata(Linnaeus, 1763), with particular attention to the limbs and wing loading. As expected, measures of the length of the legs scales isometrically with overall body weight and size. Against expectation, wing size also scales isometrically with body weight and size. This does not match the general pattern of comparison across species of flying animals, in which larger individuals have relatively larger wings, as a partial compensation for greater wing loading. We suggest that wing size inD. maculatamay be constrained by the demands of life in a crowded nest.