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The Firenze Group for the Study of Social Wasps (FGSSW) belongs to the
Dipartimento di Biologia Animale e Genetica dell'Università di Firenze
which has currently 21 faculty, 17 technical staff and more than 20 PhD
students and Post-Docs. Main research interests of the Department are in
behavioural ecology, comparative anatomy and histology of vertebrates and
invertebrates, and in the genetics of Prokaryotes.
The Firenze Group for the Study of Social Wasps is co-ordinated by Prof. Stefano Turillazzi. The principal research lines are as follows:
1) Mechanisms and evolution of social
parasitism in wasps
The leading researcher of this subgroup is Dr. Rita Cervo.
Research programs on this topic range from behavioural ecology of social
parasites to the study of the mechanisms which enable them to usurp and
control host colonies. Nest usurpation (and various degrees of intra and
interspecific parasitism) is studied in various species of Polistes
wasps.
2) Natural history and social evolution
of Stenogastrine wasps.
The leading researcher of this subgroup is Prof. Stefano Turillazzi.
Programs of research on this topic include studies on Evolution of
Nest architecture (PhD student Christina Coster-Longman and various MSc
students),
Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology of various species (PhD student
Elisabetta Francescato and various MSc students),
Systematics. Collaboration on this topic with researchers of the University
of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) has recently started.
3) Chemical communication in social wasps
This is the youngest of the research lines and is performed in collaboration
with the Centre of Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (CISM) co-ordinated
by Prof. Gloriano Moneti.
The leading researchers of this subgroup are Dr. Matthew Sledge (TMR
Post Doc) and Dr. Francesca Dani (University of Firenze Post Doc). Also
Dr. Cristina Lorenzi (researcher of the University of Turin) collaborates
in this research.
An Intense collaboration exists with the Entomological Chemistry Group
of the University of Keele (Prof. D. Morgan). Programs include the analysis
of glandular secretions and bioassays on their functions in various species
of polistine and stenogastrine wasps (nest defence, colony control, swarming
and trail following). Nestmate recognition based on cuticular hydrocarbons
is also investigated in various species. Various MS students are at present
working on different subjects.
4) Morphology and ultrastructure of
exocrine glands in Social Wasps
This research line has as leading researcher in Prof. Giovanni Delfino.
Programs include the description of morphology and ultrastructure of
various exocrine glands of several species of polistine and stenogastrine
wasps. This unit uses TEM and SEM equipment located in other departments.
5) Mating systems of Social Wasps
This research line has as leading researcher Dr. Laura Beani.
Programs include behavioural studies and experiments on mating behaviour
in Polistes and in various species of Stenogastrinae.
6) Social biology of tropical polistine
wasps
This line of research concerns studies on various species belonging
to the genera Belonogaster, Ropalidia and Polybioides .
(Leading researcher S. Turillazzi; various MS students).
Collaborations of the group are open with the Group of the Keele University
(David Morgan, G. Jones and Roland Maile) on the following projects:
1) Volatile substances in the venom of stenogastrine wasps and their
possible function
2) Trace pheromone substances in Polybioides
3) Cuticular hydrocarbons and nest mate recognition in various species
4) Chemical analysis of exocrine gland secretions
Rita Cervo and Stefano Turillazzi are collaborating at present with
Joan Strassmann, Dave Queller and Francesca Zacchi of Rice University at
Houston on a project on Conflict of interests in Polistes dominulus.
A project on nest foundation in Polistes nimphus with Juergen
Heinze and Christiane Stemmer from the University of Erlangen has also
recently begun
Joint researches with Prof. Alain Dejean of the University Paris XIII
and with Dr Maurice Tindo (University of Yaounde, Cameron) on the genus
Belonogaster and Polybioides are still in progress.
1) ALESSANDRO NANNONI (University of Florence): Studio sull'attività
predatoria e di foraggiamento di Polistes dominulus (Study on the
predatory and foraging activity of Polistes dominulus)
2) ANDREA URBINI (University of Florence): Il rilevamento dell'inquinamento
da piombo nell'area fiorentina utilizzando vespe del genere Polistes.
(Check of lead pollution in the Florence city area using social wasps of
the genus Polistes)
3) RAFFAELLA MONTESI (University of Urbino): Aggregazioni ad alta quota
e comportamento territoriale di maschi di specie del genere Polistes.
(High altitude clustering and territorial behaviour of Polistes males)
4) MONICA LANDI: Behavioural researches on nest clustering species of Stenogastrinae (Parischnogaster alternata, Liostenogaster vechti, Liostenogaster flavolineata)
5) MARIA GRAZIA GIOVINETTO: Nest defence behaviour in Polistes dominulus.
Undergraduate students projects
1) ANGELO FORTUNATO: Morphology and ultrastructure of cephalic glands
of Polistes
2) PAOLO ZANETTI: Nest-mate recognition in Stenogastrine wasps
3) LORENZO TOMMASSINI: Behavioural inventary of Eustenogaster.
4) LORENZO SANTORELLI: Behavioural difference between related and unrelated
associated foundresses of Polistes dominulus.
5) LARA FONDELLI: Nest recongnition in Polistes dominulus studied
by means of artificial nests.
6) BARBARA PANTERA: The venom of Polistes gallicus
7) MONICA TANCREDI: Defence of the nest against pathogens in social
wasps
8) ANTONIO CALABRETTA: Social wasps as carriers of yeasts
9) MASSIMILIANO STAGI: Population dynamics during the nest founding
phase in Polistes dominulus
10) KATIUSCIA LUNGHI: social communication in the Stenogastrinae
11) ALESSANDRA NARDUCCI: Ultrastructure of venom glands in Polistes
wasps
12) AUGUSTA CONIGLIO: Morphological adaptations for nest building in
stenogastrine wasps
13) ROSSELLA POGGESI: Polistes nimphus as possible social parasite if Polistes dominulus.
14 SILVIA GIANASSI: Ultrastructure of the ipopharingeal glands of
Polistes dominulus
15 VINCENZO BONGIOVANNI: Nest architecture and construction material
in stenogastrine wasps
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