Morphological evidence for polygyny in post-emergence colonies of the red paper wasp, Polistes perplexus Cresson (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Adults (n = 343) from seven post-emergence colonies and one large nesting aggregation of the red paper wasp, Polistes perplexus Cresson, were examined for ovarian development. Four classes of females were designated based on egg development and the presence of sperm in the spermatheca: undeveloped workers; minimally developed workers; developed workers; and inseminated, developed queens. More than one queen was found in five of the seven colonies and in the nesting aggregation. Developed workers were present in all queenright colonies except one. The occurrence of polygyny in this species appears to be an exception to the rule of monogyny in temperate zone post-emergence Polistes colonies. Hypotheses for the development of multiple queens are presented.