Colony productivity of Polistes dominula (Christ) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae: Polistinae) wasps nesting on plants by haplometrosis: Regression analysis

Abstract

The paper presents the results of analysis of the relationships of various colony characteristics in the resocial wasp Polistes dominula nesting on plants in the south of Ukraine (Kherson Province, the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve) in 2003–2007. The number of future foundresses and nest size at the end of the life cycle depend on the queen longevity and on the number of workers in the colony. The number of males reared in the colony is positively correlated with the nest size (the number of cells) and negatively correlated with the queen longevity. An increase in the share of the brood infested by the parasitoids Latibulus argiolus (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) and Elasmus schmitti (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) results in a smaller nest size and a smaller number of males reared.