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THERMOREGULATION IN COLONIES OF VESPULA ARENARIA AND VESPULA MACULATA (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE): II. THE RELATION BETWEEN COLONY BIOMASS AND CALORIE PRODUCTION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

David L. Gibo ,
Heather E. Dew  and
Andrew S. Hajduk
David L. Gibo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, Mississauga, Ontario
Heather E. Dew
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, Mississauga, Ontario
Andrew S. Hajduk
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, Mississauga, Ontario
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Abstract

Thermoregulation in nests of two colonies of Vespula arenaria and two colonies of V. maculata was studied in relationship to seasonal changes in colony biomass. The colonies achieved maximum ability to resist ambient temperatures of 5 °C and maintained high nest temperatures on or within a week of achieving maximum biomass. During this period the colonies were capable of producing about.20 to.35 cal per gram of biomass per minute. The caloric production per gram required to maintain the normal nest temperatures of 30 °C and 32 °C in an ambient temperature of 25 °C was much less, but was greater for the V. maculata colonies than for the V. arenaria colonies. The greater efficiency in thermoregulation by V. arenaria is largely due to the fact that nests of this species have a greater biomass of wasps than approximately equal sized nests of V. maculata.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 106 , Issue 8 , August 1974 , pp. 873 - 879
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1974

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References

REFERENCES

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