Competition for landmark territories among male Polistes canadensis (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): large-size advantage and alternative mate-acquisition tactics

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Abstract
Alternative male mating tactics of insects at landmarks (leks) have only rarely been investigated. Some males of the paper wasp, Polistes canadensis (L.), were territorial at small trees along the crests of dry ridges in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica. Territories did not contain nests or resources for which females foraged. Contrary to other “hilltopping” species, male P. canadensis competed most intensely for territories in saddles along these ridges rather than at the highest points. Nonterritorial males patrolled small areas of the ridge line, following a path that took them to a number of territories. Many males switched between territoriality and patrolling, suggesting that both size-related tactics belong to one conditional strategy. Males that were territorial on 2 or more days were larger than those that were territorial on only 1 day, and these in turn were larger than permanent patrollers. Moreover, the mean size of territorial males was positively correlated with two measures of territory attractiveness, suggesting that larger males monopolize preferred sites. Mean age of territorial males was also related to territory attractiveness, but males of intermediate age claimed the most attractive territories.

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