Resting metabolism and critical thermal maxima of vespine wasps (Vespula sp.)
- Käfer, Helmut
- Kovac, Helmut
- Stabentheiner, Anton
DOIAbstract
AbstractVespine wasps are known for their high endothermic capacity. Endothermic activity is directly linked to respiration. However, knowledge on wasp respiration is sparse and almost nothing is known about their resting metabolism.We investigated the yellowjackets’ CO2 production in a flow-through respirometer chamber overnight. Endothermic and behavioral activity was observed by real-time infrared thermography. Most resting wasps were ectothermic or only slightly endothermic (thoracic temperature excess against abdomen <0.6°C). In the investigated temperature range (Ta=2.9–42.4°C) mean CO2 production rate of resting wasps increased steeply according to an exponential function, from 5.658μlg−1min−1 at 8.3°C to 8.504μlg−1min−1 at 20.2°C, 5...
Add to ORKG