Subject: Ergonomic-stage nest of Dolichovespula maculata, queenright
PE012 priming: No, long-term study
Compound: PE031
Objective: Observe the effects of a phenotypically-similar mutagen on eusocial insects
Protocol: Nest outfitted with multiple fiberoptic cameras for safe observation, transplanted to a large enclosure, and provided with PE031-laced nutrient paste
Live observation: Considerable worker loss in the first week, remaining workforce refrains from recycling the corpses.
Dissection of recovered worker remains show no phenotypical changes.
Queen grows in size and sprouts an ancillary pair of wings on its abdomen, shows increased aggression towards workers and larvae hatched prior to PE031 exposure.
Rapid increase in both nutrient paste and nesting material consumption coinciding with the emergence of the first post-exposure workers.
Nest is expanded in all directions, partly leaving cells exposed during the restructuring.
First sighting of potentially emergent queens on day 51 as three examples make a concerted effort to remove the last uncovered fiberoptic camera from the nest.
After consulting Administration test proceeds without direct in-nest observation up to day 100, worker phenotypes and behavior show a wide range of variation during this time (including body length, wing morphology and number, stinger size, leg number and placement, mandible configuration etc.).
On day 100 attempted termination of the nest using HCN, this causes obvious disruption but shows no lethality even at 5,0% v/v.
To prevent an explosion hazard, the emergency alternative of flushing the enclosure with CO is chosen, leading to cessation of external activity after 20 minutes.
Uneventful retrieval of nest and specimens for dissection after an additional safety margin of 2 hours.
Dissection findings: The nest's superstructure resembles those of the wild-type nests, aside from notably larger cells (up to 33 cm depth) and the addition of four connected sub-nests budding off the main body.
Caste identification proves to be a challenge given the highly variable morphology, after thorough dissection 6 queens (including the foundress), 814 workers, and 27 drones are found - despite the experiment's duration the nest hasn't made the switch to drone/queen production.
The founding queen mutated considerably since the last observation, sporting a bifurcated abdomen with two ancillary pairs of wings and three asymmetrically-placed stingers each…
PE012 priming: No, long-term study
Compound: PE031
Objective: Observe the effects of a phenotypically-similar mutagen on eusocial insects
Protocol: Nest outfitted with multiple fiberoptic cameras for safe observation, transplanted to a large enclosure, and provided with PE031-laced nutrient paste
Live observation: Considerable worker loss in the first week, remaining workforce refrains from recycling the corpses.
Dissection of recovered worker remains show no phenotypical changes.
Queen grows in size and sprouts an ancillary pair of wings on its abdomen, shows increased aggression towards workers and larvae hatched prior to PE031 exposure.
Rapid increase in both nutrient paste and nesting material consumption coinciding with the emergence of the first post-exposure workers.
Nest is expanded in all directions, partly leaving cells exposed during the restructuring.
First sighting of potentially emergent queens on day 51 as three examples make a concerted effort to remove the last uncovered fiberoptic camera from the nest.
After consulting Administration test proceeds without direct in-nest observation up to day 100, worker phenotypes and behavior show a wide range of variation during this time (including body length, wing morphology and number, stinger size, leg number and placement, mandible configuration etc.).
On day 100 attempted termination of the nest using HCN, this causes obvious disruption but shows no lethality even at 5,0% v/v.
To prevent an explosion hazard, the emergency alternative of flushing the enclosure with CO is chosen, leading to cessation of external activity after 20 minutes.
Uneventful retrieval of nest and specimens for dissection after an additional safety margin of 2 hours.
Dissection findings: The nest's superstructure resembles those of the wild-type nests, aside from notably larger cells (up to 33 cm depth) and the addition of four connected sub-nests budding off the main body.
Caste identification proves to be a challenge given the highly variable morphology, after thorough dissection 6 queens (including the foundress), 814 workers, and 27 drones are found - despite the experiment's duration the nest hasn't made the switch to drone/queen production.
The founding queen mutated considerably since the last observation, sporting a bifurcated abdomen with two ancillary pairs of wings and three asymmetrically-placed stingers each…