Figure 1. The paper wasp Polistes dominula at our field site in Spain.

(a) A nest resident returning to her nest. (b) A female carrying a food ball. (c) Schematic drawing showing a subpopulation of wasp nests on a section of cactus hedge used in the Market Manipulation experiment: focal, un-manipulated nests are circles marked with an ‘F' (∼25% of the nests within a section), while the rest were termed ‘market nests'. The majority of market nests were removed in the Nest Removal and Partner Release treatments (indicated by an ‘X'). Five meter buffer zones on each side of the cactus section did not contain focal nests but received the same treatment as the rest of the section. Buffer zones sometimes included areas with no nests, as shown on the right. Photos courtesy of Tanya Pennell.