Signal response is context-dependent in Polistes dominula

Theory suggests honest status signals mediate agonistic interactions between unfamiliar individuals, but may be less important during interactions between familiar individuals. Few studies have tested receiver responses to status signals in multiple contexts. Polistes dominula have facial spots that signal agonistic ability by communicating fighting abilities to unknown rivals. We test receiver response to experimentally altered facial spots during on-nest interactions in two experiments (1) between nest-founding queens prior to worker emergence and (2) between workers on queenright nests. We found no difference in aggression towards experimental and control wasps, indicating that P. dominula do not use facial markings during interactions with familiar wasps on nests. Instead, facial patterns are primarily during agonistic interactions with unfamiliar rivals. Therefore, social context plays a key role in signal response.