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EARLY SURVIVAL OF POLISTES APACHUS (HYMENOPTERA: VESPIDAE) COLONIES IN CALIFORNIA: A FIELD STUDY OF AN INTRODUCED SPECIES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

David L. Gibo  and
Robert A. Metcalf
David L. Gibo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Erindale College, University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6
Robert A. Metcalf
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University of California, Davis 95616
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Abstract

A local population of P. apachus in California was studied to determine population structure and colony survival during the first 3 months of colony development. Only 24.2% of the colonies survived to the end of July. Bird predation on colonies (60.6%) and loss of foundresses (12.1%) were the main causes of colony failure. Bird attacks occurred approximately 2 weeks prior to the emergence of workers and the scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens, was identified as one of the avain predators. All colonies that survived this initial period persisted until observations were discontinued in late July.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 110 , Issue 12 , December 1978 , pp. 1339 - 1343
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1978

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