Thread subject: Diptera.info :: Pulsating abdomen

Posted by jorgemotalmeida on 28-10-2007 18:12
#2

The function of abdominal wagging is not fully understood. Even I don?t know the answer. :D Well, there is an hypothesis that asserts that.. "It looks like wasps talk to their babies about food using vibratory signals."

What I found here: http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Stars/Founders/founders_2001.html

"It is necessary for the wagging abdomen to contact and scrape against the nest surface to make much sound. However, most (80% avg.) AW does contact the nest and produce large vibrations.

If larvae are the intended receivers of the vibratory signal then their presence should effect abdominal wagging. To test this I removed all larvae from the nest for an hour and then replaced them. Sure enough, abdominal wagging completely stopped when larvae were absent, and started immediately when they were returned. (I should note that I was working with naturally occurring single foundress colonies. So there were no other possible adult receivers present.) "