| Neotropical swarm-founding wasps, the Epiponini, are an outstanding group of social insects whose societies are polygynic and complex nest builders. Caste dimorphism in these wasps ranges from incipient to highly distinct. Morphometric analyses of nine body parts, ovarian status, relative age and development of the 5th gastral sternite gland (Richards´ gland) of Polybia bistriata Fabricius were undertaken in order to estimate caste differentiation in nine colonies. Morphological and physiological data were used in multivariate analyses in order to evaluate the level of discrimination between inseminated and non-inseminated females. Clear physiological differences were found: queens had highly developed ovaries and they were inseminated, and workers had... |
