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Wagging movements in the wasp Polistes versicolor vulgaris Bequaert

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The wasp Polistes versicolor Bequaert waggles with a frequency of 10.6±2.1 Hz (n=190).

  2. 2.

    Two wagging periods of a duration of 0.33±0.09 seconds (n=34) follow within a second. The next pair follows after 10 or 20 seconds.

  3. 3.

    At the turning points of the wagging movements two types of sound burst of an intensity between 70 and 80 dB occur. One type of sound has peak intensities between 5 and 13 kHz, the other type has peak intensities between 1 and 3 kHz.

  4. 4.

    The flight sound at 25° C has a frequency of 115 Hz and contains no harmonics. It is not audible.

  5. 5.

    The wagging seems to be part of a defensive behavior.

Zusammenfassung

  1. 1.

    Die Wespe Polistes versicolor Bequaert schwänzelt mit einer Frequenz von 10,6±2,1 Hz (n=190).

  2. 2.

    Zwei Schwänzelphasen mit einer Dauer von je 0,33±0,09 sec (n=34) folgen innerhalb 1 sec. Das nächste Paar folgt nach 10 oder 20 sec.

  3. 3.

    An den Umkehrpunkten der Schwänzelbewegungen werden zwei Arten von Schallstößen erzeugt. Ihre Intensität beträgt 70–80 dB. Eine Art hat Spitzenintensitäten zwischen 5 und 13 kHz, die andere Art hat Spitzenintensitäten zwischen 1 und 3 kHz.

  4. 4.

    Die Flügelschlagfrequenz bei 25° C beträgt 115 Hz. Das Fluggeräusch enthält keine Obertöne und ist nicht hörbar.

  5. 5.

    Das Schwänzeln scheint zu einem Verteidigungsverhalten zu gehören.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

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Additional information

I thank Dr. A. S. Menke from the Systematic Entomology Laboratory of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the identification of the species.

Supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant GB 13494.

The hospitality of Mr. Walter Fletcher and Mr. and Mrs. M.B. Cook made these observations possible. I thank my wife for assistance in the observations.

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Esch, H. Wagging movements in the wasp Polistes versicolor vulgaris Bequaert. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 72, 221–225 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297781

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00297781

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