Vibrational signals influence development in Polistes wasps

Antennal drumming (AD) is a mechanical signal produced by female Polistes in the context of feeding the larvae. Timing of onset of the behavior and changes in rate of performance during the colony cycle suggest that AD is a modulatory signal that biases larvae to develop into adults with worker-like traits. Stressors of various kinds, including mechanical ones, induce significant biochemical changes in insects and vertebrates. We hypothesize that AD triggers a cascade of events linking biogenic amines, through hormones, to gene expression, thence to patterns of development. We report experimental results in support of the hypothesis.