Seasonal variation of Vespa auraria S. and Vespa mandarinia S. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) attacking Apis mellifera L. colonies in district Kangra of Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh (India)
VK Mattu and Ishu Sharma
The present study was undertaken to study the seasonal variation of predatory wasps, Vespa auraria and Vespa mandarinia attacking European honeybee, Apis mellifera during May 2014 to April 2015. The study revealed that V. auraria and V. mandarinia caused heavy mortality to honeybees during floral dearth period when colony strength was low due to reduced worker bee population. The population of V. auraria was maximum in month of September (21.92 percent) and minimum in month of January (0.82 percent). Peak predatory activity of V. mandarinia was in month of October (26.7 percent) and minimum in month of July (8.9 percent) than other months of the year.
VK Mattu, Ishu Sharma. Seasonal variation of Vespa auraria S. and Vespa mandarinia S. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) attacking Apis mellifera L. colonies in district Kangra of Western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh (India). J Entomol Zool Stud 2017;5(3):1862-1864.