Chemical attraction and deception [Elektronische Ressource] : intra- and interspecific communication in Hymenoptera / vorgelegt von Johannes Kroiß

Chemical attraction and deception
Intra- and interspecific communication
in Hymenoptera
Dissertation zur Erlangung des
Doktorgrades der Naturwissenschaften (Dr. rer. nat.)
der Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät III –
Biologie und Vorklinische Medizin
der Universität Regensburg
vorgelegt von
Johannes Kroiß
aus Bad Neustadt/Saale
Juni 2008























Promotionsgesuch eingereicht am: 24.06.2008

Die mündliche Prüfung (Kolloquium) wurde am 29.09.2008 abgelegt.

Die Arbeit wurde angeleitet von: Prof. Dr. Erhard Strohm

Prüfungsausschuss:
Vorsitzender: Prof. Dr. Stephan Schneuwly
1. Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Erhard Strohm
2. Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze
3. Prüfer: Prof. Dr. Christoph Oberprieler

















“I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the
Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars.”

Charles Darwin, 22 ay 160, Letter to Asa ray

CONTENTS

Contents ............................................................................................................. 1

List of publications............................................................................................. 5

Chapter 1: General Introduction......................................................................... 7
1.1 Chemical communication.................................................................................................. 7
1.2 Semiochemicals.................................................................................................................8
1.3 Intraspecific chemical communication – Pheromones ....................................................9
1.4 Interspecific chemical communication........................................................................... 17
1.5 Structural colors in nature .............................................................................................. 21
1.6 Biology of the European Beewolf Philanthus triangulum .............................................24
1.7 Biology of the cuckoo wasp Hedychrum rutilans...........................................................32
1.8 Outline of the Thesis.......................................................................................................35
1.9 References....................................................................................................................... 37

Chapter 2: A selfish function of a social gland? A postpharyngeal gland functions
as a sex pheromone reservoir in males of the solitary wasp Philanthus
triangulum....................................................................................................... 53
2.1 Summary.........................................................................................................................53
2.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................................54
2.2 Materials and Methods................................................................................................... 55
2.3 Results ............................................................................................................................59
2.4 Discussion.......................................................................................................................64
2.5 Acknowledgements......................................................................................................... 67
2.6 References ......................................................................................................................68

Chapter 3: Males of a solitary wasp possess a postpharyngeal gland. ................71
3.1 Summary......................................................................................................................... 71
3.2 Introduction.................................................................................................................... 72
3.3 Materials and methods................................................................................................... 73
3.3 Results ............................................................................................................................ 77
3.4 Discussion.......................................................................................................................85
3.5 Acknowledgements........................................................................................................ 88
3.6 References ......................................................................................................................89


1 Chapter 4: The odor of origin: kinship and geographical distance are reflected in
the marking pheromone of male beewolves (Philanthus triangulum f.,
Hymenoptera, Crabronidae). ........................................................................... 93
4.1 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 93
4.2 Background .................................................................................................................... 94
4.3 Results............................................................................................................................ 96
4.4 Discussion .....................................................................................................................102
4.5 Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 104
4.6 Materials and Methods .................................................................................................105
4.7 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... 110
4.8 References......................................................................................................................111

Chapter 5: Male territoriality and mating system in the European beewolf
Philanthus triangulum (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) – evidence for a “hotspot”
lek polygyny. ................................................................................................... 115
5.1 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 115
5.2 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 115
5.3 Materials and methods.................................................................................................. 117
5.4 Results...........................................................................................................................120
5.5 Discussion .....................................................................................................................126
5.6 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................130
5.7 References ..................................................................................................................... 131

Chapter 6: Do males of the cuckoo wasp Hedychrum rutilans (Hymenoptera,
Chrysididae) have a sex pheromone? ..............................................................135
6.1 Summary .......................................................................................................................135
6.2 Introduction..................................................................................................................136
6.3 Materials and Methods .................................................................................................137
6.4 Results...........................................................................................................................139
6.5. Discussion ....................................................................................................................142
6.6. Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................144
6.7. References ....................................................................................................................145

Chapter 7: Hydrocarbons in the nest material of a solitary digger wasp
represent a kairomone for a specialized cuckoo wasp. ....................................147
7.1 Summary........................................................................................................................147
7.2 Introduction ..................................................................................................................148
7.3 Materials and methods..................................................................................................149
7.4 Results...........................................................................................................................154
2

7.5 Discussion........................................