For us one paper wasp (Polistes fuskatus) does not differ from the other. However, such differences exist and, as it turned out, members of the same species perfectly distinguish of their fellows.
Scientists at Cornell University (USA) found that this unique ability with the paper wasps was formed in the process of evolution within only a few thousand years. Other insects it took hundreds of thousands and even millions of years.
In 2002, researchers in the course of the experiment using paint changed the appearance of some OS, resulting in these individuals began for their relatives like other people, and received their “portion” of increased aggression. However, after some time, the level of aggression began to decrease, which, according to scientists, apparently, was the result of habituation “normal” OS to “painted”, which again become their “friends.”
Among insects, this behavior is an absolute phenomenon. In this, the researchers found, after analyzing the genome paper wasps, and comparing it with the genome of their closest relatives Polistes metricus and Polistes dorsalis that have similar superskills do not exist. Moreover, such marked cognitive changes in paper wasps (unlike other species) formed just over the last few thousand years.
Something similar is true for some species of bees and wasps, in the families which are living several “Queens”. In such communities, formed a certain hierarchy, followed by intraspecific struggle for power. Probably, such conditions lead to the fact that the opponent needs to know in “person”.
Source — PNAS