SEPARATION OF CASTES OF POLISTES EXCLAMANS AND NOTES ON ITS BIOLOGY (HYM - VESPIDAE)

1. Autumnal nest populations of Polistes exclamans include externally indistinguishable workers and future queens. Qualitative as well as quantitative caste differences were found in the parietal fat body. 2. An interesting correlation exists between the type of fat body and amount of eye pigmentation in females of this species. 3. The frequency of transfer of marked males between nests was found to be very low. 4. Polistes exclamans is unusual among North American members of its genus in that it appears to be almost completely haplometrotic in parts of its range. This may be evolutionarily connected with the species' comparatively greater vagility and tendency to disperse. Nest dispersal may reduce the rate of parasitism. © 1969 Masson & Cie.