Age-Dependent Labor Division and Behavioral Characteristics in Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Simple Summary Hornets are social insects that live in large groups, wherein individuals share many tasks, such as cleaning, prey foraging, and building nests. However, how these activities are divided among workers depending on their age is poorly understood in hornets. In this study, we kept a colony of the invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax in the laboratory and observed the behaviors of newly emerged workers over time. We found that young workers mainly carried out cleaning and food processing inside the nest, middle-aged workers were more involved in prey foraging, and older workers mostly collected nest-building materials. The feeding of larvae was carried out by workers of all ages. We also discovered that food pellets made from prey were processed twice, first outside and then again inside the nest, with several workers cooperating. These results show that workers change their tasks flexibly with age and work together to more efficiently maintain their colony. Understanding these behaviors helps explain the success of this invasive species in new environments.