Meeting Abstract

P2.26  Friday, Jan. 4  The distribution of micronutrients in colonies of the wasp, Polistes metricus during different phases of the colony cycle JUDD, TM; MAGNUS, RM*; FASNACHT, MP; Southeast Missouri State University; Southeast Missouri State University; Southeast Missouri State University rmmagnus1s@semo.edu

Micronutrients play a vital role in growth and reproduction. Little is known about their role in insect physiology. In this study, we examined the levels of micronutrients in different castes of the paper wasp, Polistes metricus to determine if there are differences in the levels of micronutrients found among the immature stages and adult stages of worker and reproductive individuals. Polistes forms annual colonies in which a single individual (the foundress) intiates a colony. The colony produces workers in early phases of the colony and produces reproductives in the final phase. This natural separation of the two brood types makes it an ideal organism for this type of study. Wasps were collected from the following phases of the colony cycle: 1) Early foundresses, 2) Colonies prior to early worker emergence, 3) Colonies prior to late worker emergence, 4) Colonies prior to the emergence of reproductives, 5) Emerging gynes males, and 6) late gynes and males. All individuals were analyzed for their levels of Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, and Zn using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results show the nutritional differences between the worker and reproductive larvae, pupae, and adults.