Have you ever wondered how paper wasps choose the identity of their larvae?
Paper wasps, those amazing creatures that build their nests from chewed-up paper in a honeycomb shape, have a unique strategy to ensure that their larvae become workers or queens. And it all starts with a special “tap.”
First, we must understand that in a colony of paper wasps, there are two main types of individuals: workers and queens. Workers are like tireless workers who handle all tasks, from foraging for food to caring for the larvae. Queens, on the other hand, are responsible for laying eggs and ensuring the colony’s survival.
So, how do wasps decide who will be a worker and who will be a queen? Here’s where the intriguing “tapping” comes in!
When a queen lays an egg, that egg becomes a larva inside the honeycomb. But here’s the cool part: paper wasps don’t let the fate of that larva be determined solely by genetics. Instead, workers perform an incredible ritual known as “tapping.”
Workers walk towards the cells where the larvae are and begin gently tapping the larva’s cocoon with their antennae. This isn’t a violent action but rather a special form of communication. Each larva responds to these taps differently, and it’s this response that determines its destiny.
If the larva responds actively, showing energy and enthusiasm when tapped, it’s likely to become a worker. Wasps interpret this response as an indicator that the larva has the energy and willingness required to perform laborious tasks.
On the other hand, if the larva responds more passively or not at all, it’s more likely to become a queen. This lack of response is interpreted as a sign that the larva might have the necessary potential to be a leader and take care of reproduction.
In summary, paper wasps have this fascinating method of “tapping” larvae to assess their attitude and determine whether they will be workers or queens in the colony. It’s as if wasps have their own job selection system within their community!
So the next time you see a paper wasp nest, remember that there’s much more than just paper and stings. There’s an incredible world of interactions and surprising strategies that remind us of how incredibly intelligent these creatures are!
This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on November 10, 2023. Puedes leer la versión en español en Las avispas papeleras eligen la identidad de sus larvas con golpecitos
Sources
Jill Sakai, Drumming guides caste system in wasps (University of Wisconsin Madison) | Wikipedia
- Share on:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Homo sapiens Emerged from the Union of Two Mysterious Populations Before Neanderthals and Denisovans 300,000 Years Ago
For decades, the predominant view of human evolution held that Homo sapiens emerged in Africa between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago, descending from a single ancestral lineage. However, recent research…
The World’s Lakes Are Changing Color—An Alarming Sign of Water Quality and Ecosystem Alteration
Lakes are a fundamental component of terrestrial ecosystems. They not only serve as habitats for countless aquatic and terrestrial species but also play a key role in climate regulation and…
The Extraordinary Chigi Olpe: The Oldest Depiction of the Judgment of Paris and the Formation of Hoplite Phalanxes
In 1882, in an Etruscan tomb near Veii, about 16 kilometers north of Rome, a Greek pitcher—an olpe—was discovered. It had remained hidden in a burial chamber that had been…
The Forgotten Plan to Flood the Sahara and Create an Inland Sea
On July 1, 1905, and for a month, the Magasin d’Education et de Récréation serialized a novel by Jules Verne titled L’invasion de la mer (The Invasion of the Sea),…
Borders of El Argar, the First State of the Iberian Peninsula During the Bronze Age, Identified
A recent study conducted by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology has precisely identified the economic and political borders that,…
The Tomb of a Pharaoh from the Abydos Dynasty at Seven Meters Deep and a Roman Pottery Workshop Discovered in Egypt
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported the discovery of a royal tomb from the Abydos Dynasty in the “Jabal Anubis” cemetery and the location of a pottery workshop…
Operation Gauntlet: The Destruction of Mines, Coal, and Stations in Svalbard During World War II
The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, belonging to Norway, is famous for being home to the Global Seed Vault and for having recently emerged as a tourist destination where visitors can…
“Pompeian Gray” Discovered in Pompeii Excavations: A Unique Color in the Roman World
A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science has revealed the discovery of a new color in the chromatic repertoire of the Roman world: Pompeian Gray. This research,…
Bette Nesmith Graham, the Typist Who Invented Correction Fluid
Some may recognize the name Bette Nesmith Graham, if only because she was the mother of musician and composer Robert Michael Nesmith, a member of the 1960s band The Monkees,…
Shackled with Iron Chains: Archaeologists Reveal the Harsh Reality of Gold Mines in Ptolemaic Egypt
A recent archaeological discovery in Egypt’s Eastern Desert has revealed the harsh reality faced by miners during the Ptolemaic period. During excavations at the Ghozza site, a team of French…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
