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Re: WASPS == HELP!!

Pat Kiewicz wrote:
> 
> In article <351D0B3E.7364@foxinternet.net>, Rebecca.Neason@foxinternet.net
> says...
> >
> >Virtually all yellow jacket species resident in North America are native
> >to N.A.  I can't even find a reference to corroborate the presence of an
> >"imported German yellow jacket" in N.A.  They are honeybee predators in
> >Europe, so I'm certain that I'd have seen someting in my beekeeping
> >periodicals if they were indeed resident in North America.
> >
> 
> OK, a quick search, and the first cite I came up with is a the
> Delaware Coop. Ext. page: http://bluehen.ags.udel.edu/deces/hyg/hyg-06.htm
> 
> "Yellow jackets are fierce and the insect most likely to
> sting. Yellow jackets are sleek, yellow and black
> insects that fly extremely well. Most nest in the ground,
> but a wall-void nesting yellow jacket species, _Vespula
> germanica_, which was introduced from Europe, has
> increased in numbers in recent years and is now a
> serious problem at parks and backyards where it
> scavenges for food."
> 
> Search for references to _Vespula germanica_.  (Please note
> that 'germanica' is the species name, thus 'German yellow
> jacket.'  Not politics or an ethnic issue!)
> 
> There have been local newspaper articles published in late summer
> for the last several years on this introduced species, which
> is aggressive and very apt to nest in or near dwellings, and
> appears to be increasing in population.
> 
> I don't have any reason to believe German yellow jackets they are
> prey on native wasps, bees, or honeybees.  They can, however, *compete*
> with native wasps for prey and with native species for nesting space,
> much the same way Eurasian house sparrows and starlings do in the
> bird realm.
> 
> --
> Pat in Plymouth MI
> SORRY!   My return address is munged.  Drop the BOMB to get through.

I know that German yellow jackets are predators of honeybees because I
have seen film of them in action.  As a beekeeper, it made me sick to my
stomach.  I'm disappointed to hear that they are indeed in the U.S.  The
paragraph implies it was a recent event ("... which was introduced from
Europe, has increased in numbers in recent years...") which is even more
depressing.  As though the beekeepers in the U.S. didn't already have
enough to worry about with imported pests!

They are huge compared to our native yellow jacket and are even more
irritable.  Although, having witnessed a particularly dry autumn here in
the Pac NW, I don't see how that's possible.  I've heard anecdotes of
deer hunters losing entire carcasses to yellowjackets because they
failed to cover the carcass with netting.

Steve  (Maritime...)
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