The social wasp Vespula germanica (F.) is a serious pest in many regions it has invaded. Control programs to reduce its populations are commonly based on the use of poison baits. These baits also attract nonpestiferous invertebrates and vertebrates. In this work we studied the attraction of V. germanica foragers by conspecific worker squashes, comparing the effect of head and abdomen squashes in wasps behavior. We found that head squashes attract V. germanica foragers, elicit landing and transportation to nests. Furthermore, the addition of squashed heads to a protein bait increased attraction. This could be an alternative to improve baiting programs.
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1 August 2001
Attraction of Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) Foragers by Conspecific Heads
P. D’Adamo,
J. C. Corley,
M. Lozada
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Journal of Economic Entomology
Vol. 94 • No. 4
August 2001
Vol. 94 • No. 4
August 2001
foraging behavior
Hymenoptera
social wasps
Vespula germanica