Metabolomics analysis of larval secretions reveals a caste-driven nutritional shift in a social wasp colony.

Social wasps exhibit a unique nutritional cycle in which adults feed larvae with prey, and larvae provide adults with larval secretions (LS). LS serves as a vital nutritional source for adults, contributing to the colony's health and reproductive success. The LS nutrient composition has been previously reported in various wasp species, yet these analyses focused solely on worker-destined larvae, overlooking the potential caste designation effects on LS composition.

Annular remodelling predicts outcome in isolated severe tricuspid regurgitation: a registry-based echocardiographic analysis.

Aims: Depending on volume status, secondary tricuspid regurgitation (sTR) has a strong dynamic component. In contrast, associated structural dilatation of the tricuspid annulus and the right heart chambers may be less volume dependent. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of right heart remodelling in isolated severe sTR (isoTR).

Passive heat diffusion in nests with downward-facing cells: Implications for early colony development in social wasps.

Social insects employ a variety of active and passive mechanisms for nest thermoregulation. Many social wasp species exhibit a particular nest-architecture by building their nests with cells facing downward. By using thermal imaging to characterize the heat diffusion throughout Oriental hornet nests from different angular positions, we show that the heat diffusion along the vertical gradient of nests is more efficient when the cell openings face downward than when facing sideways or upward, demonstrating the efficiency of this specific architecture in increasing the nest temperature.

Continuous exchange of nectar nutrients in an Oriental hornet colony.

Nutritional exchanges play a fundamental role in the evolution of animal societies. In higher animal societies, while adult individuals can be both food donors and receivers, the offspring usually only receive food from the adults. Hornets and wasps are fierce insect hunters that feed their larvae with prey.