A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Recognition of conspecific immunological status in a neotropical paper wasp
Authors: de Souza André Rodrigues, França Wilson, Prato Amanda, Rantala Markus J., do Nascimento Fábio Santos
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Behavioral Ecology
Journal name in source: BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
Journal acronym: BEHAV ECOL
Volume: 34
Issue: 3
First page : 480
Last page: 487
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 1045-2249
eISSN: 1465-7279
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arad010
Web address : https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/34/3/480/7102497
Host immune activation is common under a pathogen invasion. This physiological response can promote changes in the body surface compounds, thus providing chemical cues related to health that might be useful to conspecifics. By recognizing the current immunological status of social partners, individuals can modulate their behavior to minimize the risk of infection. Tegument wounding, an immune elicitor, is a required step for many parasites to become established in a host. By using the neotropical eusocial paper wasp Mischocyttarus metathoracicus as a model organism, we first performed a lure presentation experiment in the field to test if wasps discriminate conspecific immunological status (experimentally manipulated by wounding) during on nest social interactions. Then, we performed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses to test if immunostimulation by wounding alters the wasps’ cuticular hydrocarbon profile. We found that wasps reduce the duration of aggressive physical contact when interacting with wounded lures, despite displaying a similar frequency of inspective and aggressive behaviors toward both the wounded and the control lures. Besides, we found a subtle increase in a single cuticular hydrocarbon in the wounded wasps. Thus, wasps recognize conspecific immunological status, likely by chemical cues, and modulate their behavior in order to defend the colony against intruders while minimizing the personal risk of infection.