Venom induces alarm behaviour in the social wasp Polybioides raphigastra (Hymenoptera : Vespidae): an investigation of alarm behaviour, venom volatiles and sting autotomy

• Main Authors: Hashim, Rosli, Turillazzi, S., Sledge, M.F., Dani, F.R., Fortunato, A., Maschwitz, U., Clarke, S.R., Francescato, E., Jones, G.R., Morgan, E.D.
• Format: Article
• Published: 1999
• Subjects: QH301 Biology
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/8269/; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-3032.1999.00137.x/abstract

Chemicals from the venom gland elicited alarm behaviour and attack in the Asian polistine wasp Polybioides raphigastra. When presented with crushed venom glands workers of this wasp respond with a mass stinging attack. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses show that the major volatiles in th...