Does the Aggregation Behavior of Overwintering Paper Wasp Gynes Provide Energetic Benefits?
Helmut Kovac1, Astrid B Amstrup1,2, Helmut Käfer1
1Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Journal of Insect Behavior
|January 16, 2026
Summary
Overwintering paper wasps (Polistes dominula) do not save energy by aggregating. Contrary to expectations, aggregations showed higher activity, suggesting other factors drive this overwintering behavior.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Physiology
Background:
- Temperate region insects, like paper wasps (Polistes dominula), overwinter in sheltered locations.
- Overwintering requires significant energy reserves, and insect aggregation is thought to reduce energetic costs and desiccation stress.
- Metabolic rates can differ between solitary insects and those in aggregations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the metabolic rates of overwintering paper wasp gynes (females).
- To determine if aggregating reduces energy expenditure during overwintering.
- To explore the relationship between metabolism, activity, and aggregation in paper wasps.
Main Methods:
- Paper wasp gynes were studied individually and in aggregations at three different temperatures (4, 8, 12°C).
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) production, a measure of metabolic rate, was measured for both single wasps and groups.
- Locomotor activity was observed and recorded concurrently with metabolic measurements.
Main Results:
- Metabolic rate increased exponentially with ambient temperature for both solitary wasps and aggregations.
- No significant difference in metabolic rate was found between single paper wasps and those in aggregations.
- Aggregations exhibited higher activity levels compared to solitary individuals.
Conclusions:
- Energetic savings do not appear to be the primary driver for aggregation behavior in overwintering paper wasp gynes.
- Higher activity levels in aggregations suggest that factors other than energy conservation influence this behavior.
- Further research is needed to understand the full adaptive significance of overwintering aggregations in paper wasps.
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