Wasps [Archive] - Freethought Forum

godfry n. glad

09-24-2004, 02:09 AM

Since this came up in the Cockroach thread, I thought I'd post it seperately, 'cause I'm still interested.

Are paper wasps predators of yellowjackets? Or, do they just compete for the similar food supplies? I'd guess that the paper wasps have displaced the usual yellowjackets. I'm comfortable with that....they are far less interested in me and what I eat...So far.

godfry

livius drusus

09-24-2004, 02:31 AM

I'm sure people who actually know what they're talking about will be along shortly, but meanwhile, I did find some interesting tidbits on this page (http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7450.html) about the paper wasps v. yellowjackets issue.

In western states there are two distinct types of social wasps: yellowjackets and paper wasps. Yellowjackets are by far the most troublesome group. Paper wasps are much less defensive and rarely sting humans. They tend to shy away from human activity except when their nests are located near doors, windows, or other high traffic areas.

Nests of both yellowjacket and paper wasps typically are begun in spring by a single queen who overwinters and becomes active when the weather warms. She emerges in late winter/early spring to feed and start a new nest. From spring to midsummer nests are in the growth phase, and the larvae require large amounts of protein. Workers forage mainly for protein at this time (usually in the form of other insects) and for some sugars. By late summer, however, the colonies grow more slowly or cease growth and require large amounts of sugar to maintain the queen and workers. So foraging wasps are particularly interested in sweet things at this time.

Normally, yellowjacket and paper wasp colonies only live one season. In very mild winters or in coastal California south of San Francisco, however, some yellowjacket colonies survive for several years and become quite large.