THERMOREGULATION IN COLONIES OF VESPULA ARENARIA AND VESPULA MACULATA (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE): II. THE RELATION BETWEEN COLONY BIOMASS AND CALORIE PRODUCTION

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Abstract
Thermoregulation in nests of two colonies of Vespula arenaria and two colonies of V. maculata was studied in relationship to seasonal changes in colony biomass. The colonies achieved maximum ability to resist ambient temperatures of 5 °C and maintained high nest temperatures on or within a week of achieving maximum biomass. During this period the colonies were capable of producing about.20 to.35 cal per gram of biomass per minute. The caloric production per gram required to maintain the normal nest temperatures of 30 °C and 32 °C in an ambient temperature of 25 °C was much less, but was greater for the V. maculata colonies than for the V. arenaria colonies. The greater efficiency in thermoregulation by V. arenaria is largely due to the fact that nests of this species have a greater biomass of wasps than approximately equal sized nests of V. maculata.

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